Head-to-head comparison
Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc vs Refrigeration School Inc: which has better ROI?
Option A Avondale, AZ
Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc
- Net price / year
- $30,451
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,873
- Payback
- 13.5 yrs
Option B Phoenix, AZ
Refrigeration School Inc
- Net price / year
- $27,025
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,953
- Payback
- 23.5 yrs
Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $60,902 in 13.5 years versus 23.5 years at Refrigeration School Inc, on median earnings of $52,873 vs $52,953 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc | Refrigeration School Inc |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,451 | $27,025 |
| Total net cost | $60,902 | $108,100 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,873 | $52,953 |
| Median debt | $13,124 | $8,233 |
| Payback | 13.5 yrs | 23.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $29,358 | -$16,240 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc or Refrigeration School Inc?
Refrigeration School Inc, at $27,025 a year after aid versus $30,451 — a gap of $3,426 a year, or $47,198 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 Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc or Refrigeration School Inc graduates earn more?
Refrigeration School Inc graduates report a median $52,953 ten years after entry, $80 more than the $52,873 at Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc. 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, Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc or Refrigeration School Inc?
Refrigeration School Inc: its completers carry a median $8,233 in federal loans versus $13,124 at Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc, a difference of $4,891. 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?
76% of students finish at Refrigeration School Inc, against 70% at Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc. 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.