Head-to-head comparison
University of Phoenix-Arizona vs Paradise Valley Community College: 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
Paradise Valley Community College
- Net price / year
- $12,180
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,196
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Paradise Valley Community College comes closer — median earnings $47,196 against a $48,720 total, vs $37,752 at University of Phoenix-Arizona. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Phoenix-Arizona | Paradise Valley Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,520 | $12,180 |
| Total net cost | $54,080 | $48,720 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,752 | $47,196 |
| Median debt | $31,553 | $6,995 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$266,240 | -$72,000 |
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 Paradise Valley Community College?
Paradise Valley Community College, at $12,180 a year after aid versus $13,520 — a gap of $1,340 a year, or $5,360 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 Paradise Valley Community College graduates earn more?
Paradise Valley Community College graduates report a median $47,196 ten years after entry, $9,444 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 Paradise Valley Community College?
Paradise Valley Community College: its completers carry a median $6,995 in federal loans versus $31,553 at University of Phoenix-Arizona, a difference of $24,558. 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 19% at Paradise Valley 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.