Florida Southern College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando: which has better ROI?
Florida Southern College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $114,204 in 16.5 years versus 20.1 years at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando, on median earnings of $55,294 vs $53,341 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Florida Southern College | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,551 | $24,995 |
| Total net cost | $114,204 | $99,980 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,294 | $53,341 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $31,301 |
| Payback | 16.5 yrs | 20.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $24,476 | -$360 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Florida Southern College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando, at $24,995 a year after aid versus $28,551 — a gap of $3,556 a year, or $14,224 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Florida Southern College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando graduates earn more?
Florida Southern College graduates report a median $55,294 ten years after entry, $1,953 more than the $53,341 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando. 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, Florida Southern College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando?
Florida Southern College: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $31,301 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando, a difference of $6,301. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
83% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando, against 71% at Florida Southern 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.