Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte comes closer — median earnings $42,759 against a $102,932 total, vs $34,515 at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,810 | $25,733 |
| Total net cost | $21,620 | $102,932 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,515 | $42,759 |
| Median debt | $8,750 | $29,773 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$298,520 | -$214,952 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, at $10,810 a year after aid versus $25,733 — a gap of $14,923 a year, or $81,312 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte graduates report a median $42,759 ten years after entry, $8,244 more than the $34,515 at Caldwell Community College and Technical 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, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute: its completers carry a median $8,750 in federal loans versus $29,773 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte, a difference of $21,023. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte, against 45% at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. 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.