Head-to-head comparison
University of Arizona vs Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott: which has better ROI?
Option A Tucson, AZ
University of Arizona
- Net price / year
- $16,674
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,979
- Payback
- 5.7 yrs
Option B Prescott, AZ
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
- Net price / year
- $40,287
- Earnings, 10 years
- $84,131
- Payback
- 4.5 yrs
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $161,148 in 4.5 years versus 5.7 years at University of Arizona, on median earnings of $84,131 vs $59,979 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Arizona | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,674 | $40,287 |
| Total net cost | $66,696 | $161,148 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,979 | $84,131 |
| Median debt | $19,620 | $23,666 |
| Payback | 5.7 yrs | 4.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $165,684 | $554,272 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Arizona or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott?
University of Arizona, at $16,674 a year after aid versus $40,287 — a gap of $23,613 a year, or $94,452 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 University of Arizona or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott graduates earn more?
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott graduates report a median $84,131 ten years after entry, $24,152 more than the $59,979 at University of Arizona. 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, University of Arizona or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott?
University of Arizona: its completers carry a median $19,620 in federal loans versus $23,666 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott, a difference of $4,046. 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?
68% of students finish at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott, against 68% at University of Arizona. 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.