J Sargeant Reynolds 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 $39,529 at J Sargeant Reynolds Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,168 | $23,046 |
| Total net cost | $20,672 | $92,184 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,529 | $44,173 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $29,375 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$197,292 | -$175,924 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk?
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College, at $5,168 a year after aid versus $23,046 — a gap of $17,878 a year, or $71,512 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do J Sargeant Reynolds 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, $4,644 more than the $39,529 at J Sargeant Reynolds 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, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk?
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $29,375 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk, a difference of $18,875. 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 32% at J Sargeant Reynolds 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.