Carrington College-Reno vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas comes closer — median earnings $48,191 against a $104,712 total, vs $43,731 at Carrington College-Reno. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carrington College-Reno | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $51,823 | $26,178 |
| Total net cost | $103,646 | $104,712 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,731 | $48,191 |
| Median debt | $15,188 | $31,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$196,226 | -$108,092 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Carrington College-Reno or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas, at $26,178 a year after aid versus $51,823 — a gap of $25,645 a year, or $1,066 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Carrington College-Reno or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas graduates report a median $48,191 ten years after entry, $4,460 more than the $43,731 at Carrington College-Reno. 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, Carrington College-Reno or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas?
Carrington College-Reno: its completers carry a median $15,188 in federal loans versus $31,500 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas, a difference of $16,312. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
80% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas, against 42% at Carrington College-Reno. 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.