American Institute-West Hartford vs Cortiva Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cortiva Institute comes closer — median earnings $34,866 against a $137,744 total, vs $28,710 at American Institute-West Hartford. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American Institute-West Hartford | Cortiva Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,316 | $34,436 |
| Total net cost | $77,264 | $137,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $28,710 | $34,866 |
| Median debt | $11,979 | $11,259 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$470,264 | -$407,624 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American Institute-West Hartford or Cortiva Institute?
American Institute-West Hartford, at $19,316 a year after aid versus $34,436 — a gap of $15,120 a year, or $60,480 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-West Hartford or Cortiva Institute graduates earn more?
Cortiva Institute graduates report a median $34,866 ten years after entry, $6,156 more than the $28,710 at American Institute-West Hartford. 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-West Hartford or Cortiva Institute?
Cortiva Institute: its completers carry a median $11,259 in federal loans versus $11,979 at American Institute-West Hartford, a difference of $720. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
85% of students finish at Cortiva Institute, against 56% at American Institute-West Hartford. 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.