Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago — ROI, Cost & Payback
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago charges a net price of $27,347/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $109,388. Graduates earn a median $53,341 ten years after entry, $4,981/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 22 years — a 20-year net return of -$9,768, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago's 22-year payback ranks #1,081 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 16% of them, and #43 of 116 in Illinois.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $27,347/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $109,388 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $53,341 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $4,981/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $31,301 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 22 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$9,768 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago's own numbers. Net price $27,347 × 4 years = $109,388 total. Median earnings $53,341 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $4,981 a year of premium. $109,388 ÷ $4,981 = 22 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$9,768. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago students graduate with?
A median $31,301 in federal loans among completers, or 59% of the $53,341 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
Is Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?
Its $27,347 net price runs $13,597 above the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, or $54,388 more across the full degree.