Head-to-head comparison
University of Phoenix-Arizona vs American InterContinental University System: which has better ROI?
Option A Phoenix, AZ
University of Phoenix-Arizona
- Net price / year
- $13,520
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,752
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Chandler, AZ
American InterContinental University System
- Net price / year
- $15,172
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,144
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Phoenix-Arizona comes closer — median earnings $37,752 against a $54,080 total, vs $36,144 at American InterContinental University System. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Phoenix-Arizona | American InterContinental University System |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,520 | $15,172 |
| Total net cost | $54,080 | $60,688 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,752 | $36,144 |
| Median debt | $31,553 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$266,240 | -$305,008 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Phoenix-Arizona or American InterContinental University System?
University of Phoenix-Arizona, at $13,520 a year after aid versus $15,172 — a gap of $1,652 a year, or $6,608 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 Phoenix-Arizona or American InterContinental University System graduates earn more?
University of Phoenix-Arizona graduates report a median $37,752 ten years after entry, $1,608 more than the $36,144 at American InterContinental University System. 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 Phoenix-Arizona or American InterContinental University System?
American InterContinental University System: its completers carry a median $31,000 in federal loans versus $31,553 at University of Phoenix-Arizona, a difference of $553. 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?
21% of students finish at University of Phoenix-Arizona, against 9% at American InterContinental University System. 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.