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Montreat College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Montreat NC · vs · Private for-profit, Charlotte NC

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Montreat College comes closer — median earnings $45,151 against a $108,244 total, vs $42,759 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureMontreat CollegeAviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte
Net price / yr$27,061$25,733
Total net cost$108,244$102,932
Median earnings, 10 yrs$45,151$42,759
Median debt$25,813$29,773
Payback
20-year net return-$172,424-$214,952

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

Which is cheaper, Montreat College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?

Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte, at $25,733 a year after aid versus $27,061 — a gap of $1,328 a year, or $5,312 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Montreat College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte graduates earn more?

Montreat College graduates report a median $45,151 ten years after entry, $2,392 more than the $42,759 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte. 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, Montreat College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?

Montreat College: its completers carry a median $25,813 in federal loans versus $29,773 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte, a difference of $3,960. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

70% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte, against 50% at Montreat 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.

Montreat College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte: frequently asked questions

Is Montreat College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte a better value?
Montreat 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, Montreat College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte: $25,733/yr net price after aid versus $27,061/yr at Montreat College — a difference of $1,328 a year, or about $5,312 over four years.
Do Montreat College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte graduates earn more?
Montreat College graduates earn a median $45,151 ten years after entry, versus $42,759 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte — a $2,392 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.