Glendale Community College vs Grand Canyon University
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| Glendale Community College Glendale, AZ | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Break-even |
| 10-year ROI | -21% | +23% |
| 10-year net gain | $-10,276 | $22,593 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $48,886 | $57,054 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $51,483 | $49,541 |
| Average net price | $11,650 | $22,472 |
| Median debt | $6,960 | $22,114 |
| Break-even | 12.6 yrs | 8.1 yrs |
| Graduation rate | 16% | 44% |
| Admission rate | — | 79% |
Glendale Community College
Poor return
$-10,276 over 10 years
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
Grand Canyon University
Break-even
+$22,593 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.