Danville Community College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk comes closer — median earnings $44,173 against a $92,184 total, vs $31,664 at Danville Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Danville Community College | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,669 | $23,046 |
| Total net cost | $26,676 | $92,184 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $31,664 | $44,173 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $29,375 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$360,596 | -$175,924 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Danville Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk?
Danville Community College, at $6,669 a year after aid versus $23,046 — a gap of $16,377 a year, or $65,508 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Danville Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk graduates report a median $44,173 ten years after entry, $12,509 more than the $31,664 at Danville Community 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, Danville Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk?
Danville Community College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $29,375 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk, a difference of $20,375. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
79% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk, against 39% at Danville Community 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.