Cape Fear Community College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Cape Fear Community College comes closer — median earnings $38,654 against a $19,220 total, vs $42,759 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cape Fear Community College | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,610 | $25,733 |
| Total net cost | $19,220 | $102,932 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,654 | $42,759 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $29,773 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$213,340 | -$214,952 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cape Fear Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?
Cape Fear Community College, at $9,610 a year after aid versus $25,733 — a gap of $16,123 a year, or $83,712 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cape Fear Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte graduates report a median $42,759 ten years after entry, $4,105 more than the $38,654 at Cape Fear 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, Cape Fear Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?
Cape Fear Community College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $29,773 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte, a difference of $20,273. 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 34% at Cape Fear 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.