Head-to-head comparison
Virginia Highlands Community College vs Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church: which has better ROI?
Option A Abingdon, VA
Virginia Highlands Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,375
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,681
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Falls Church, VA
Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church
- Net price / year
- $38,690
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Virginia Highlands Community College comes closer — median earnings $32,681 against a $21,500 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Virginia Highlands Community College | Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,375 | $38,690 |
| Total net cost | $21,500 | $154,760 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,681 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | — | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$335,080 | -$428,820 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Virginia Highlands Community College or Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church?
Virginia Highlands Community College, at $5,375 a year after aid versus $38,690 — a gap of $33,315 a year, or $133,260 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 Virginia Highlands Community College or Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church graduates earn more?
Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church graduates report a median $34,657 ten years after entry, $1,976 more than the $32,681 at Virginia Highlands 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.