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Keystone College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, La Plume PA · vs · Private for-profit, Philadelphia PA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Keystone College comes closer — median earnings $44,976 against a $88,204 total, vs $42,785 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureKeystone CollegeAviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia
Net price / yr$22,051$25,437
Total net cost$88,204$101,748
Median earnings, 10 yrs$44,976$42,785
Median debt$26,000$32,397
Payback
20-year net return-$155,884-$213,248

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Keystone College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?

Keystone College, at $22,051 a year after aid versus $25,437 — a gap of $3,386 a year, or $13,544 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Keystone College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?

Keystone College graduates report a median $44,976 ten years after entry, $2,191 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, Keystone College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?

Keystone College: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $32,397 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, a difference of $6,397. 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 36% at Keystone 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.

Keystone College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: frequently asked questions

Is Keystone College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia a better value?
Keystone College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Keystone College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Keystone College: $22,051/yr net price after aid versus $25,437/yr at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia — a difference of $3,386 a year, or about $13,544 over four years.
Do Keystone College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?
Keystone College graduates earn a median $44,976 ten years after entry, versus $42,785 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia — a $2,191 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.