Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Butler County Community College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: which has better ROI?

Public, Butler PA · vs · Private for-profit, Philadelphia PA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Butler County Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,891 against a $12,466 total, vs $42,785 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureButler County Community CollegeAviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia
Net price / yr$6,233$25,437
Total net cost$12,466$101,748
Median earnings, 10 yrs$38,891$42,785
Median debt$10,020$32,397
Payback
20-year net return-$201,846-$213,248

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Butler County Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?

Butler County Community College, at $6,233 a year after aid versus $25,437 — a gap of $19,204 a year, or $89,282 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Butler County Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?

Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates report a median $42,785 ten years after entry, $3,894 more than the $38,891 at Butler County 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 leaves students with less debt, Butler County Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?

Butler County Community College: its completers carry a median $10,020 in federal loans versus $32,397 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, a difference of $22,377. 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 37% at Butler County 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.

Butler County Community College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: frequently asked questions

Is Butler County Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia a better value?
Butler County Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Butler County Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Butler County Community College: $6,233/yr net price after aid versus $25,437/yr at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia — a difference of $19,204 a year, or about $89,282 over four years.
Do Butler County Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn a median $42,785 ten years after entry, versus $38,891 at Butler County Community College — a $3,894 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.