Head-to-head comparison
University of Arizona vs Pima Community College: 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 Tucson, AZ
Pima Community College
- Net price / year
- $3,405
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,810
- Payback
- No payback
University of Arizona has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $66,696 in 5.7 years versus not at all at Pima Community College, on median earnings of $59,979 vs $39,810 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Arizona | Pima Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,674 | $3,405 |
| Total net cost | $66,696 | $13,620 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,979 | $39,810 |
| Median debt | $19,620 | $7,000 |
| Payback | 5.7 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $165,684 | -$184,620 |
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 Pima Community College?
Pima Community College, at $3,405 a year after aid versus $16,674 — a gap of $13,269 a year, or $53,076 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 Pima Community College graduates earn more?
University of Arizona graduates report a median $59,979 ten years after entry, $20,169 more than the $39,810 at Pima Community College. 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 Pima Community College?
Pima Community College: its completers carry a median $7,000 in federal loans versus $19,620 at University of Arizona, a difference of $12,620. 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 University of Arizona, against 28% at Pima Community 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.