Middlesex College vs American Institute-Clifton: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Middlesex College comes closer — median earnings $46,861 against a $4,576 total, vs $28,710 at American Institute-Clifton. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Middlesex College | American Institute-Clifton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,288 | $20,371 |
| Total net cost | $4,576 | $81,484 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,861 | $28,710 |
| Median debt | $9,750 | $11,979 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$34,556 | -$474,484 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Middlesex College or American Institute-Clifton?
Middlesex College, at $2,288 a year after aid versus $20,371 — a gap of $18,083 a year, or $76,908 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Middlesex College or American Institute-Clifton graduates earn more?
Middlesex College graduates report a median $46,861 ten years after entry, $18,151 more than the $28,710 at American Institute-Clifton. 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, Middlesex College or American Institute-Clifton?
Middlesex College: its completers carry a median $9,750 in federal loans versus $11,979 at American Institute-Clifton, a difference of $2,229. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at American Institute-Clifton, against 33% at Middlesex 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.