Head-to-head comparison
Rio Salado College vs Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC: which has better ROI?
Option A Tempe, AZ
Rio Salado College
- Net price / year
- $8,341
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,015
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Chandler, AZ
Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC
- Net price / year
- $13,257
- Earnings, 10 years
- $27,201
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Rio Salado College comes closer — median earnings $41,015 against a $33,364 total, vs $27,201 at Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rio Salado College | Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,341 | $13,257 |
| Total net cost | $33,364 | $53,028 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,015 | $27,201 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $6,221 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$180,264 | -$476,208 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Rio Salado College or Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC?
Rio Salado College, at $8,341 a year after aid versus $13,257 — a gap of $4,916 a year, or $19,664 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 Rio Salado College or Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC graduates earn more?
Rio Salado College graduates report a median $41,015 ten years after entry, $13,814 more than the $27,201 at Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC. 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, Rio Salado College or Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC?
Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC: its completers carry a median $6,221 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Rio Salado College, a difference of $3,279. 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?
77% of students finish at Alturas Cosmetology of Arizona LLC, against 9% at Rio Salado College. 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.