At $47,290/yr net price, Carrington College-Mesa graduates earn $36,718/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $2,718/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $47,290 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $189,160 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $36,718/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$2,718/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 69.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 53.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $9,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $45,475/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $49,457/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $48,195/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $47,673/yr |
| $110,001+ | $49,457/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $64,281 | $32,311 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | Associate | $53,775 | $27,688 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Associate | $50,272 | $28,291 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Certificate | $27,758 | $9,431 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Certificate | $24,298 | $8,958 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | Certificate | $22,493 | $8,789 |
| Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies. | Certificate | $19,144 | $7,222 |
The Risk Factor
53.3% of students at Carrington College-Mesa graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
The math at Carrington College-Mesa is hard to justify. You pay roughly $47,000 a year, and the median graduate earns under $37,000 ten years out. That price sits above what many four-year private colleges charge, for a two-year for-profit credential that pays back slowly.
Your outcome depends entirely on which program you pick, and the split is wide. The associate nursing program is the one path that clears the bar, with graduates earning around $64,000. Dental support and medical assisting associate degrees land in the $50,000s. The certificate programs are a different story: health and medical administrative services and medical assisting certificates both pay under $28,000, barely above the median for someone with no degree at all.
Debt tracks the same divide, and not in your favor. The nursing associate carries over $32,000 in debt for its higher pay, while the low-paying certificates keep debt near $9,000. So the programs that earn the most also borrow the most, and the cheap-debt programs leave you with earnings that struggle to cover living costs in the Phoenix metro.
The net price barely moves with income here. If your family earns under $30,000, you still face around $45,000 a year, and higher-income families actually pay slightly more. There is no meaningful discount for lower-income households, so the sticker price is close to what you will actually owe regardless of what you make.
This school makes financial sense in one scenario: you enroll in the associate nursing program, finish, and pass licensure. For that path, Arizona's healthcare demand can carry the return. For the certificate programs, or if you are unsure you will complete, look elsewhere. Nearly half of students do not graduate, and the price of leaving without a credential is steep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carrington College-Mesa worth the cost?
Carrington College-Mesa's high net price of $47,290 per year leads to poor financial outcomes, with graduates earning only $36,718 ten years after enrollment. The nursing programs offer better returns at around $64,000, but other programs leave graduates earning less than $30,000 annually.
What is the graduation rate at Carrington College-Mesa?
Carrington College-Mesa has a 53% graduation rate, meaning nearly half of students don't complete their programs. This adds risk to an already expensive education with limited earning potential.
Which programs at Carrington College-Mesa have the best job prospects?
Registered nursing programs at Carrington College-Mesa lead to the highest earnings at $64,281, followed by dental support services at $53,775. Health administration and medical assisting programs result in much lower salaries around $25,000-$28,000.
How much debt do Carrington College-Mesa graduates have?
The median debt for Carrington College-Mesa graduates is $9,500, which is relatively low compared to the school's high annual costs. However, many graduates earn too little to justify even this modest debt load outside of nursing programs.