Mesa Community College vs University of Arizona
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 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Break-even | Strong return |
| 10-year ROI | +6% | +188% |
| 10-year net gain | $2,989 | $138,874 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $50,424 | $66,272 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $51,054 | $45,236 |
| Average net price | $12,132 | $16,674 |
| Median debt | $7,473 | $19,620 |
| Break-even | 9.4 yrs | 3.5 yrs |
| Graduation rate | 16% | 68% |
| Admission rate | — | 86% |
Mesa Community College
Break-even
+$2,989 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
University of Arizona
Strong return
+$138,874 over 10 years
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.