Crowder College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City comes closer — median earnings $40,743 against a $107,260 total, vs $35,987 at Crowder College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Crowder College | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,023 | $26,815 |
| Total net cost | $18,046 | $107,260 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,987 | $40,743 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $30,416 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$265,506 | -$259,600 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Crowder College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City?
Crowder College, at $9,023 a year after aid versus $26,815 — a gap of $17,792 a year, or $89,214 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Crowder College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City graduates report a median $40,743 ten years after entry, $4,756 more than the $35,987 at Crowder 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, Crowder College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City?
Crowder College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $30,416 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City, a difference of $21,416. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City, against 49% at Crowder College. 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.