Mesa Community College vs Phoenix College
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| Mesa Community College Mesa, AZ | Phoenix College Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Break-even | Poor return |
| 10-year ROI | +6% | -1% |
| 10-year net gain | $2,989 | $-470 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $50,424 | $50,021 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $51,054 | $45,838 |
| Average net price | $12,132 | $12,055 |
| Median debt | $7,473 | $6,750 |
| Break-even | 9.4 yrs | 10.1 yrs |
| Graduation rate | 16% | 14% |
| Admission rate | — | — |
Mesa Community College
Break-even
+$2,989 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
Phoenix College
Poor return
$-470 over 10 years
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.