Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte vs Roanoke-Chowan Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte comes closer — median earnings $42,759 against a $102,932 total, vs $29,324 at Roanoke-Chowan Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte | Roanoke-Chowan Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,733 | $5,570 |
| Total net cost | $102,932 | $11,140 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,759 | $29,324 |
| Median debt | $29,773 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$214,952 | -$391,860 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte or Roanoke-Chowan Community College?
Roanoke-Chowan Community College, at $5,570 a year after aid versus $25,733 — a gap of $20,163 a year, or $91,792 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte or Roanoke-Chowan Community College graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte graduates report a median $42,759 ten years after entry, $13,435 more than the $29,324 at Roanoke-Chowan Community 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 graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte, against 37% at Roanoke-Chowan Community 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.