Community College of Philadelphia vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Community College of Philadelphia comes closer — median earnings $40,852 against a $23,822 total, vs $42,785 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Community College of Philadelphia | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,911 | $25,437 |
| Total net cost | $23,822 | $101,748 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,852 | $42,785 |
| Median debt | $10,750 | $32,397 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$173,982 | -$213,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Community College of Philadelphia or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Community College of Philadelphia, at $11,911 a year after aid versus $25,437 — a gap of $13,526 a year, or $77,926 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Community College of Philadelphia or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates report a median $42,785 ten years after entry, $1,933 more than the $40,852 at Community College of Philadelphia. 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, Community College of Philadelphia or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Community College of Philadelphia: its completers carry a median $10,750 in federal loans versus $32,397 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, a difference of $21,647. 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 24% at Community College of Philadelphia. 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.