Head-to-head comparison
University of Phoenix-Arizona vs Grand Canyon University: 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 Phoenix, AZ
Grand Canyon University
- Net price / year
- $22,472
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,186
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Grand Canyon University comes closer — median earnings $42,186 against a $89,888 total, vs $37,752 at University of Phoenix-Arizona. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Phoenix-Arizona | Grand Canyon University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,520 | $22,472 |
| Total net cost | $54,080 | $89,888 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,752 | $42,186 |
| Median debt | $31,553 | $22,114 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$266,240 | -$213,368 |
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 Grand Canyon University?
University of Phoenix-Arizona, at $13,520 a year after aid versus $22,472 — a gap of $8,952 a year, or $35,808 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 Grand Canyon University graduates earn more?
Grand Canyon University graduates report a median $42,186 ten years after entry, $4,434 more than the $37,752 at University of Phoenix-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 Phoenix-Arizona or Grand Canyon University?
Grand Canyon University: its completers carry a median $22,114 in federal loans versus $31,553 at University of Phoenix-Arizona, a difference of $9,439. 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?
43% of students finish at Grand Canyon University, 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.