Head-to-head comparison
Ringling College of Art and Design vs Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa: which has better ROI?
Option A Sarasota, FL
Ringling College of Art and Design
- Net price / year
- $57,742
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,325
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Tampa, FL
Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa
- Net price / year
- $36,680
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Ringling College of Art and Design comes closer — median earnings $43,325 against a $230,968 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ringling College of Art and Design | Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $57,742 | $36,680 |
| Total net cost | $230,968 | $146,720 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,325 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$331,668 | -$420,780 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ringling College of Art and Design or Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa?
Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa, at $36,680 a year after aid versus $57,742 — a gap of $21,062 a year, or $84,248 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 Ringling College of Art and Design or Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa graduates earn more?
Ringling College of Art and Design graduates report a median $43,325 ten years after entry, $8,668 more than the $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa. 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, Ringling College of Art and Design or Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa?
Arizona College of Nursing-Tampa: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Ringling College of Art and Design, a difference of $17,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.