Cairn University-Langhorne vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cairn University-Langhorne comes closer — median earnings $44,172 against a $110,568 total, vs $42,785 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cairn University-Langhorne | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,642 | $25,437 |
| Total net cost | $110,568 | $101,748 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,172 | $42,785 |
| Median debt | $26,926 | $32,397 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$194,328 | -$213,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cairn University-Langhorne or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, at $25,437 a year after aid versus $27,642 — a gap of $2,205 a year, or $8,820 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cairn University-Langhorne or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?
Cairn University-Langhorne graduates report a median $44,172 ten years after entry, $1,387 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, Cairn University-Langhorne or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Cairn University-Langhorne: its completers carry a median $26,926 in federal loans versus $32,397 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, a difference of $5,471. 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 60% at Cairn University-Langhorne. 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.