Columbus Technical College vs American InterContinental University-Atlanta: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbus Technical College comes closer — median earnings $34,238 against a $16,004 total, vs $36,144 at American InterContinental University-Atlanta. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbus Technical College | American InterContinental University-Atlanta |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,001 | $16,482 |
| Total net cost | $16,004 | $65,928 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,238 | $36,144 |
| Median debt | $8,756 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$298,444 | -$310,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Columbus Technical College or American InterContinental University-Atlanta?
Columbus Technical College, at $4,001 a year after aid versus $16,482 — a gap of $12,481 a year, or $49,924 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Columbus Technical College or American InterContinental University-Atlanta graduates earn more?
American InterContinental University-Atlanta graduates report a median $36,144 ten years after entry, $1,906 more than the $34,238 at Columbus 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 leaves students with less debt, Columbus Technical College or American InterContinental University-Atlanta?
Columbus Technical College: its completers carry a median $8,756 in federal loans versus $31,000 at American InterContinental University-Atlanta, a difference of $22,244. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
27% of students finish at Columbus 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.