Chamberlain University-Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona · Private For-Profit · 90.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 74/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Chamberlain University-Arizona scores 74 (Fair Value) - a profile defined by strong earnings outcomes from its single reported program alongside serious institutional red flags. Median 6-year earnings of $69,800 reflect that virtually all graduates are registered nurses entering the Arizona healthcare market, which pays well. The 5.2-year payback period and debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.300 are genuinely strong. However, the 50% completion rate is the dominant risk: half of students who enroll do not graduate. This is a private for-profit nursing school operating in Phoenix, and the 9.1% admission rate indicates broad or near-open access. The repayment rate of 66.5% is below the Scorecard average, suggesting that non-completers contribute significantly to a borrower pool that struggles to repay. Net price of $40,096 is notably higher than tuition of $20,785, indicating fees and living costs push total cost well above tuition alone. The one program with full Scorecard data - Registered Nursing - posts solid outcomes for completers: $83,188 year-one and $96,132 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.471 (C+ grade) on median debt of $39,146. The C+ grade despite high earnings reflects the heavy debt load nursing students carry.
Chamberlain University-Arizona
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $20,785/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,785/yr |
| Average net price | $40,096/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $160,384 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $92,405 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $69,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,919 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $222 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 50.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 693 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $20,785/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $40,096/year, or roughly $160,384 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of N/A/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $43,994/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $20,919 in federal loans, which works out to about $222 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $92,405 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.30, comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | N/A |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $36,199 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | N/A |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | $43,994 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Scorecard does not report a net price figure for the 0-30000 income bracket at Chamberlain Arizona. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $36,199 per year - the lowest published income band. Against a $40,096 average net price, low-income students receive limited aid. This is a concern for a school with a 46.9% Pell rate: the lowest-income students are paying near-full cost at a for-profit institution with a 50% completion rate.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Scorecard does not report net price for the 48001-75000 or 75001-110000 brackets at Chamberlain Arizona. The incomplete income-based pricing data limits analysis. Prospective middle-income students should request net price estimates directly from the institution.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $43,994 per year. At a 5.2-year payback and $69,800 median earnings - driven entirely by nursing wages - the full-pay case is defensible for students who complete the program. The central risk is non-completion: a student who borrows $40,000+ and does not graduate faces significant financial harm.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Chamberlain University-Arizona with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $96,132 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the only program Chamberlain Arizona reports with full outcome data: 242 graduates, $83,188 year-one earnings, $96,132 at year four, median debt of $39,146, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.471 (C+ grade). The earnings are strong for the Phoenix healthcare market, and the year-four trajectory to $96k reflects experienced RN wages. However, $39,146 in median debt is substantially higher than most public university nursing programs and represents a 20-year standard repayment of approximately $415 per month. The C+ grade accurately reflects that while earnings are solid, the debt burden is real.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 62.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 66.5% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Chamberlain University-Arizona’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 90.9% |
| Enrollment | 693 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 46.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,978 |
Chamberlain Arizona admits over 90% of applicants, positioning it as a near-open-access nursing school. There are no reported test score benchmarks. The threshold is enrollment commitment and financial qualification, not academic selectivity. Prospective students should focus on the completion rate, not the admission rate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Chamberlain Arizona's Scorecard peer set includes Grand Canyon University, Chamberlain University-Florida, West Coast University-Miami, and West Coast University-Texas - all for-profit or religiously affiliated healthcare-focused schools. Chamberlain sits at Fair Value (74), below West Coast University-Orange County (83) which has higher completion rates and slightly better repayment. The common pattern across this peer group is strong earnings for completers paired with high non-completion rates. Chamberlain's brand is its nursing specialization; the ROI case depends entirely on completing the degree.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain University-Arizona (this school) | 74 | $40,096 | $92,405 |
| West Coast University-Texas | 76 | $25,992 | $102,672 |
| West Coast University-Miami | 76 | $32,539 | $102,672 |
| Chamberlain University-Florida | 74 | $31,269 | $92,405 |
| University of Advancing Technology | 28 | $28,522 | $50,719 |
| Grand Canyon University | 25 | $22,472 | $42,186 |
Who Thrives Here
Chamberlain Arizona admits 90.9% of applicants and does not report test scores. Enrollment is 693 students. Pell rate of 46.9% reflects a predominantly low- and moderate-income student body. The school is purpose-built for nursing education; students who enroll are almost entirely seeking the BSN credential. The 50% completion rate is the central issue - students considering Chamberlain should investigate what happens to non-completers and what support systems exist for students who struggle academically or financially mid-program.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Chamberlain University-Arizona is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $40,096 a year after aid ($160,384 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $92,405 a decade out, the cost takes about 5.2 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 50.0% graduation rate, concerning loan repayment rates.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. A median $20,919 owed against $92,405 in annual earnings is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.