American Institute-Clifton — ROI, Cost & Payback
American Institute-Clifton charges a net price of $20,371/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $81,484. Median earnings ten years after entry are $28,710, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, American Institute-Clifton does not clear its cost — it ranks #69 of 78 New Jersey colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $20,371/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $81,484 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $28,710 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$19,650/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $11,979 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$474,484 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on American Institute-Clifton's own numbers. Net price $20,371 × 4 years = $81,484 total. Median earnings $28,710 fall $19,650 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $81,484 bill in about 8.1 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do American Institute-Clifton students graduate with?
A median $11,979 in federal loans among completers, or 42% of the $28,710 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of American Institute-Clifton students graduate?
57% finish their degree — 43% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $81,484 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $142,954 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is American Institute-Clifton expensive compared with other New Jersey colleges?
Its $20,371 net price runs $47 below the $20,418 median across the 78 New Jersey colleges we profile, and $186 less across the full degree.