Head-to-head comparison
Wayne County Community College District vs Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield: which has better ROI?
Option A Detroit, MI
Wayne County Community College District
- Net price / year
- $7,656
- Earnings, 10 years
- $29,079
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Southfield, MI
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield
- Net price / year
- $38,786
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Wayne County Community College District comes closer — median earnings $29,079 against a $15,312 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wayne County Community College District | Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,656 | $38,786 |
| Total net cost | $15,312 | $155,144 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $29,079 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $12,062 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$400,932 | -$429,204 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wayne County Community College District or Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield?
Wayne County Community College District, at $7,656 a year after aid versus $38,786 — a gap of $31,130 a year, or $139,832 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 Wayne County Community College District or Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield graduates earn more?
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield graduates report a median $34,657 ten years after entry, $5,578 more than the $29,079 at Wayne County Community College District. 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, Wayne County Community College District or Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield?
Arizona College of Nursing-Southfield: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $12,062 at Wayne County Community College District, a difference of $2,562. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.