Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia vs Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia: 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 $22,377 at Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia | Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,437 | $17,520 |
| Total net cost | $101,748 | $70,080 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,785 | $22,377 |
| Median debt | $32,397 | $10,667 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$213,248 | -$589,740 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia or Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia?
Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia, at $17,520 a year after aid versus $25,437 — a gap of $7,917 a year, or $31,668 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 Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates report a median $42,785 ten years after entry, $20,408 more than the $22,377 at Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia. 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 Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia?
Empire Beauty School-Center City Philadelphia: its completers carry a median $10,667 in federal loans versus $32,397 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, a difference of $21,730. 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 Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, against 36% at Empire Beauty School-Center City 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.