American Institute-Clifton vs National Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American Institute-Clifton comes closer — median earnings $28,710 against a $81,484 total, vs $26,415 at National Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Institute-Clifton | National Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,371 | $25,261 |
| Total net cost | $81,484 | $101,044 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $28,710 | $26,415 |
| Median debt | $11,979 | $6,756 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$474,484 | -$539,944 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Institute-Clifton or National Career Institute?
American Institute-Clifton, at $20,371 a year after aid versus $25,261 — a gap of $4,890 a year, or $19,560 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-Clifton or National Career Institute graduates earn more?
American Institute-Clifton graduates report a median $28,710 ten years after entry, $2,295 more than the $26,415 at National Career Institute. 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-Clifton or National Career Institute?
National Career Institute: its completers carry a median $6,756 in federal loans versus $11,979 at American Institute-Clifton, a difference of $5,223. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at American Institute-Clifton, against 56% at National Career Institute. 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.