American InterContinental University System vs Penrose Academy: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American InterContinental University System comes closer — median earnings $36,144 against a $60,688 total, vs $35,839 at Penrose Academy. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American InterContinental University System | Penrose Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,172 | $22,586 |
| Total net cost | $60,688 | $90,344 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,144 | $35,839 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $6,333 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$305,008 | -$340,764 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, American InterContinental University System or Penrose Academy?
American InterContinental University System, at $15,172 a year after aid versus $22,586 — a gap of $7,414 a year, or $29,656 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 InterContinental University System or Penrose Academy graduates earn more?
American InterContinental University System graduates report a median $36,144 ten years after entry, $305 more than the $35,839 at Penrose Academy. 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 InterContinental University System or Penrose Academy?
Penrose Academy: its completers carry a median $6,333 in federal loans versus $31,000 at American InterContinental University System, a difference of $24,667. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
90% of students finish at Penrose Academy, against 9% at American InterContinental University System. 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.