Head-to-head comparison
Tidewater Community College vs Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church: which has better ROI?
Option A Norfolk, VA
Tidewater Community College
- Net price / year
- $11,762
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,349
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Falls Church, VA
Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church
- Net price / year
- $38,690
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Tidewater Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,349 against a $23,524 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tidewater Community College | Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,762 | $38,690 |
| Total net cost | $23,524 | $154,760 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,349 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $10,000 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$223,744 | -$428,820 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Tidewater Community College or Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church?
Tidewater Community College, at $11,762 a year after aid versus $38,690 — a gap of $26,928 a year, or $131,236 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 Tidewater Community College or Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church graduates earn more?
Tidewater Community College graduates report a median $38,349 ten years after entry, $3,692 more than the $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church. 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, Tidewater Community College or Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church?
Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $10,000 at Tidewater Community College, a difference of $500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.