Head-to-head comparison
Pickens Technical College vs Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora: which has better ROI?
Option A Aurora, CO
Pickens Technical College
- Net price / year
- $6,600
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,210
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Aurora, CO
Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora
- Net price / year
- $37,153
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pickens Technical College comes closer — median earnings $39,210 against a $26,400 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pickens Technical College | Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,600 | $37,153 |
| Total net cost | $26,400 | $148,612 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,210 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | — | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$209,400 | -$422,672 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pickens Technical College or Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora?
Pickens Technical College, at $6,600 a year after aid versus $37,153 — a gap of $30,553 a year, or $122,212 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 Pickens Technical College or Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora graduates earn more?
Pickens Technical College graduates report a median $39,210 ten years after entry, $4,553 more than the $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora. 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.