Cheyney University of Pennsylvania vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia comes closer — median earnings $42,785 against a $101,748 total, vs $37,837 at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,265 | $25,437 |
| Total net cost | $57,060 | $101,748 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,837 | $42,785 |
| Median debt | $21,785 | $32,397 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$267,520 | -$213,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, at $14,265 a year after aid versus $25,437 — a gap of $11,172 a year, or $44,688 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Cheyney University of Pennsylvania or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates report a median $42,785 ten years after entry, $4,948 more than the $37,837 at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. 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, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania: its completers carry a median $21,785 in federal loans versus $32,397 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, a difference of $10,612. 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 41% at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. 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.