Head-to-head comparison
Pima Community College vs American InterContinental University System: which has better ROI?
Option A Tucson, AZ
Pima Community College
- Net price / year
- $3,405
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,810
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Chandler, AZ
American InterContinental University System
- Net price / year
- $15,172
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,144
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pima Community College comes closer — median earnings $39,810 against a $13,620 total, vs $36,144 at American InterContinental University System. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pima Community College | American InterContinental University System |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,405 | $15,172 |
| Total net cost | $13,620 | $60,688 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,810 | $36,144 |
| Median debt | $7,000 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$184,620 | -$305,008 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pima Community College or American InterContinental University System?
Pima Community College, at $3,405 a year after aid versus $15,172 — a gap of $11,767 a year, or $47,068 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 Pima Community College or American InterContinental University System graduates earn more?
Pima Community College graduates report a median $39,810 ten years after entry, $3,666 more than the $36,144 at American InterContinental University System. 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, Pima Community College or American InterContinental University System?
Pima Community College: its completers carry a median $7,000 in federal loans versus $31,000 at American InterContinental University System, a difference of $24,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
28% of students finish at Pima Community College, against 9% at American InterContinental University System. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.