Head-to-head comparison
Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix vs Arizona College-Glendale: which has better ROI?
Option A Avondale, AZ
Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix
- Net price / year
- $24,863
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,341
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Glendale, AZ
Arizona College-Glendale
- Net price / year
- $27,919
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix comes closer — median earnings $48,341 against a $99,452 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College-Glendale. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix | Arizona College-Glendale |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,863 | $27,919 |
| Total net cost | $99,452 | $111,676 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,341 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $13,097 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$99,832 | -$385,736 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix or Arizona College-Glendale?
Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix, at $24,863 a year after aid versus $27,919 — a gap of $3,056 a year, or $12,224 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-Phoenix or Arizona College-Glendale graduates earn more?
Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix graduates report a median $48,341 ten years after entry, $13,684 more than the $34,657 at Arizona College-Glendale. 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-Phoenix or Arizona College-Glendale?
Arizona College-Glendale: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $13,097 at Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix, a difference of $3,597. 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?
85% of students finish at Arizona College-Glendale, against 69% at Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix. 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.