Head-to-head comparison
Palo Alto College vs Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas: which has better ROI?
Option A San Antonio, TX
Palo Alto College
- Net price / year
- $4,463
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,448
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Dallas, TX
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
- Net price / year
- $38,488
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Palo Alto College comes closer — median earnings $37,448 against a $8,926 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Palo Alto College | Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,463 | $38,488 |
| Total net cost | $8,926 | $153,952 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,448 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $13,393 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$227,166 | -$428,012 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Palo Alto College or Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas?
Palo Alto College, at $4,463 a year after aid versus $38,488 — a gap of $34,025 a year, or $145,026 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Palo Alto College or Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas graduates earn more?
Palo Alto College graduates report a median $37,448 ten years after entry, $2,791 more than the $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Palo Alto College or Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas?
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $13,393 at Palo Alto College, a difference of $3,893. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.