Mountain Empire 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 $32,622 at Mountain Empire Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mountain Empire Community College | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,852 | $23,046 |
| Total net cost | $35,408 | $92,184 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,622 | $44,173 |
| Median debt | — | $29,375 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$350,168 | -$175,924 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Mountain Empire Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk?
Mountain Empire Community College, at $8,852 a year after aid versus $23,046 — a gap of $14,194 a year, or $56,776 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Mountain Empire 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, $11,551 more than the $32,622 at Mountain Empire 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 graduates more of its students?
79% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk, against 48% at Mountain Empire 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.