Harcum College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Harcum College comes closer — median earnings $46,827 against a $49,552 total, vs $42,785 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Harcum College | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,776 | $25,437 |
| Total net cost | $49,552 | $101,748 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,827 | $42,785 |
| Median debt | $18,440 | $32,397 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$80,212 | -$213,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Harcum College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Harcum College, at $24,776 a year after aid versus $25,437 — a gap of $661 a year, or $52,196 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Harcum College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?
Harcum College graduates report a median $46,827 ten years after entry, $4,042 more than the $42,785 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-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, Harcum College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Harcum College: its completers carry a median $18,440 in federal loans versus $32,397 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, a difference of $13,957. 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 44% at Harcum 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.