Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City vs Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City comes closer — median earnings $40,743 against a $107,260 total, vs $33,132 at Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City | Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,815 | $24,907 |
| Total net cost | $107,260 | $99,628 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,743 | $33,132 |
| Median debt | $30,416 | $9,833 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$259,600 | -$404,188 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City or Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis?
Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis, at $24,907 a year after aid versus $26,815 — a gap of $1,908 a year, or $7,632 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-Kansas City or Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City graduates report a median $40,743 ten years after entry, $7,611 more than the $33,132 at Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis. 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, Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City or Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis?
Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis: its completers carry a median $9,833 in federal loans versus $30,416 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City, a difference of $20,583. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City, against 59% at Paul Mitchell the School-St Louis. 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.