Anderson University vs Aiken Technical College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aiken Technical College comes closer — median earnings $39,225 against a $9,614 total, vs $42,101 at Anderson University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Anderson University | Aiken Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,544 | $4,807 |
| Total net cost | $94,176 | $9,614 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,101 | $39,225 |
| Median debt | $26,700 | $12,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$219,356 | -$192,314 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Anderson University or Aiken Technical College?
Aiken Technical College, at $4,807 a year after aid versus $23,544 — a gap of $18,737 a year, or $84,562 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Anderson University or Aiken Technical College graduates earn more?
Anderson University graduates report a median $42,101 ten years after entry, $2,876 more than the $39,225 at Aiken 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, Anderson University or Aiken Technical College?
Aiken Technical College: its completers carry a median $12,250 in federal loans versus $26,700 at Anderson University, a difference of $14,450. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
66% of students finish at Anderson University, against 34% at Aiken 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.