Head-to-head comparison
University of Phoenix-Arizona vs Arizona College-Glendale: 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 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 University of Phoenix-Arizona comes closer — median earnings $37,752 against a $54,080 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College-Glendale. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Phoenix-Arizona | Arizona College-Glendale |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,520 | $27,919 |
| Total net cost | $54,080 | $111,676 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,752 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $31,553 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$266,240 | -$385,736 |
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 Arizona College-Glendale?
University of Phoenix-Arizona, at $13,520 a year after aid versus $27,919 — a gap of $14,399 a year, or $57,596 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 Arizona College-Glendale graduates earn more?
University of Phoenix-Arizona graduates report a median $37,752 ten years after entry, $3,095 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, University of Phoenix-Arizona or Arizona College-Glendale?
Arizona College-Glendale: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $31,553 at University of Phoenix-Arizona, a difference of $22,053. 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 21% at University of Phoenix-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.