Life University vs American InterContinental University-Atlanta: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Life University comes closer — median earnings $47,397 against a $119,164 total, vs $36,144 at American InterContinental University-Atlanta. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Life University | American InterContinental University-Atlanta |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,791 | $16,482 |
| Total net cost | $119,164 | $65,928 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,397 | $36,144 |
| Median debt | $16,666 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$138,424 | -$310,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Life University or American InterContinental University-Atlanta?
American InterContinental University-Atlanta, at $16,482 a year after aid versus $29,791 — a gap of $13,309 a year, or $53,236 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Life University or American InterContinental University-Atlanta graduates earn more?
Life University graduates report a median $47,397 ten years after entry, $11,253 more than the $36,144 at American InterContinental University-Atlanta. 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, Life University or American InterContinental University-Atlanta?
Life University: its completers carry a median $16,666 in federal loans versus $31,000 at American InterContinental University-Atlanta, a difference of $14,334. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
38% of students finish at Life University, against 21% at American InterContinental University-Atlanta. 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.