Coastal Pines Technical College vs American InterContinental University-Atlanta: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American InterContinental University-Atlanta comes closer — median earnings $36,144 against a $65,928 total, vs $30,214 at Coastal Pines Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Coastal Pines Technical College | American InterContinental University-Atlanta |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | -$126 | $16,482 |
| Total net cost | -$504 | $65,928 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $30,214 | $36,144 |
| Median debt | — | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$362,416 | -$310,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Coastal Pines Technical College or American InterContinental University-Atlanta?
Coastal Pines Technical College, at -$126 a year after aid versus $16,482 — a gap of $16,608 a year, or $66,432 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Coastal Pines Technical College or American InterContinental University-Atlanta graduates earn more?
American InterContinental University-Atlanta graduates report a median $36,144 ten years after entry, $5,930 more than the $30,214 at Coastal Pines Technical 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 graduates more of its students?
48% of students finish at Coastal Pines Technical College, against 21% at American InterContinental University-Atlanta. 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.