American Institute-Cherry Hill vs Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield comes closer — median earnings $46,396 against a $126,300 total, vs $28,710 at American Institute-Cherry Hill. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Institute-Cherry Hill | Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,458 | $31,575 |
| Total net cost | $85,832 | $126,300 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $28,710 | $46,396 |
| Median debt | $11,979 | $11,730 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$478,832 | -$165,580 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Institute-Cherry Hill or Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield?
American Institute-Cherry Hill, at $21,458 a year after aid versus $31,575 — a gap of $10,117 a year, or $40,468 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do American Institute-Cherry Hill or Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield graduates earn more?
Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield graduates report a median $46,396 ten years after entry, $17,686 more than the $28,710 at American Institute-Cherry Hill. 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, American Institute-Cherry Hill or Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield?
Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield: its completers carry a median $11,730 in federal loans versus $11,979 at American Institute-Cherry Hill, a difference of $249. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
77% of students finish at Lincoln Technical Institute-South Plainfield, against 56% at American Institute-Cherry Hill. 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.