Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia vs CDE Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia comes closer — median earnings $42,785 against a $101,748 total, vs $30,894 at CDE Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia | CDE Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,437 | $24,554 |
| Total net cost | $101,748 | $98,216 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,785 | $30,894 |
| Median debt | $32,397 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$213,248 | -$447,536 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia or CDE Career Institute?
CDE Career Institute, at $24,554 a year after aid versus $25,437 — a gap of $883 a year, or $3,532 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-Philadelphia or CDE Career Institute graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates report a median $42,785 ten years after entry, $11,891 more than the $30,894 at CDE Career Institute. 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-Philadelphia or CDE Career Institute?
CDE Career Institute: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $32,397 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, a difference of $22,897. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
63% of students finish at CDE Career Institute, against 63% at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia. 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.