Head-to-head comparison
Pima Medical Institute-Mesa vs Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson: which has better ROI?
Option A Mesa, AZ
Pima Medical Institute-Mesa
- Net price / year
- $21,461
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,673
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Tucson, AZ
Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson
- Net price / year
- $37,136
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pima Medical Institute-Mesa comes closer — median earnings $38,673 against a $42,922 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pima Medical Institute-Mesa | Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,461 | $37,136 |
| Total net cost | $42,922 | $148,544 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,673 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$236,662 | -$422,604 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pima Medical Institute-Mesa or Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson?
Pima Medical Institute-Mesa, at $21,461 a year after aid versus $37,136 — a gap of $15,675 a year, or $105,622 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 Medical Institute-Mesa or Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson graduates earn more?
Pima Medical Institute-Mesa graduates report a median $38,673 ten years after entry, $4,016 more than the $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson. 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 Medical Institute-Mesa or Arizona College of Nursing-Tucson?
Completers at both borrow a median $9,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.