Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia vs Lancaster County Career and Technology Center: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lancaster County Career and Technology Center comes closer — median earnings $44,566 against a $70,020 total, vs $42,785 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia | Lancaster County Career and Technology Center |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,437 | $17,505 |
| Total net cost | $101,748 | $70,020 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,785 | $44,566 |
| Median debt | $32,397 | $15,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$213,248 | -$145,900 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia or Lancaster County Career and Technology Center?
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center, at $17,505 a year after aid versus $25,437 — a gap of $7,932 a year, or $31,728 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 Lancaster County Career and Technology Center graduates earn more?
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center graduates report a median $44,566 ten years after entry, $1,781 more than the $42,785 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-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 Lancaster County Career and Technology Center?
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center: its completers carry a median $15,250 in federal loans versus $32,397 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, a difference of $17,147. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
91% of students finish at Lancaster County Career and Technology Center, 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.