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Albany Technical College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta: which has better ROI?

Public, Albany GA · vs · Private for-profit, Duluth GA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta comes closer — median earnings $48,191 against a $109,460 total, vs $30,541 at Albany Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureAlbany Technical CollegeAviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta
Net price / yr$4,524$27,365
Total net cost$18,096$109,460
Median earnings, 10 yrs$30,541$48,191
Median debt$12,412$31,500
Payback
20-year net return-$374,476-$112,840

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Albany Technical College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta?

Albany Technical College, at $4,524 a year after aid versus $27,365 — a gap of $22,841 a year, or $91,364 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Albany Technical College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta graduates earn more?

Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta graduates report a median $48,191 ten years after entry, $17,650 more than the $30,541 at Albany Technical College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.

Which leaves students with less debt, Albany Technical College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta?

Albany Technical College: its completers carry a median $12,412 in federal loans versus $31,500 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta, a difference of $19,088. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

46% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta, against 42% at Albany Technical College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.

Albany Technical College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta: frequently asked questions

Is Albany Technical College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta a better value?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Albany Technical College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta?
Albany Technical College: $4,524/yr net price after aid versus $27,365/yr at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta — a difference of $22,841 a year, or about $91,364 over four years.
Do Albany Technical College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta graduates earn a median $48,191 ten years after entry, versus $30,541 at Albany Technical College — a $17,650 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.