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New Castle School of Trades vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, New Castle PA · vs · Private for-profit, Philadelphia PA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but New Castle School of Trades comes closer — median earnings $44,814 against a $16,722 total, vs $42,785 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureNew Castle School of TradesAviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia
Net price / yr$8,361$25,437
Total net cost$16,722$101,748
Median earnings, 10 yrs$44,814$42,785
Median debt$9,567$32,397
Payback
20-year net return-$87,642-$213,248

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

Which is cheaper, New Castle School of Trades or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?

New Castle School of Trades, at $8,361 a year after aid versus $25,437 — a gap of $17,076 a year, or $85,026 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do New Castle School of Trades or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?

New Castle School of Trades graduates report a median $44,814 ten years after entry, $2,029 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, New Castle School of Trades or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?

New Castle School of Trades: its completers carry a median $9,567 in federal loans versus $32,397 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, a difference of $22,830. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

76% of students finish at New Castle School of Trades, against 63% at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia. 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.

New Castle School of Trades vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: frequently asked questions

Is New Castle School of Trades or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia a better value?
New Castle School of Trades 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, New Castle School of Trades or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
New Castle School of Trades: $8,361/yr net price after aid versus $25,437/yr at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia — a difference of $17,076 a year, or about $85,026 over four years.
Do New Castle School of Trades or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?
New Castle School of Trades graduates earn a median $44,814 ten years after entry, versus $42,785 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia — a $2,029 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.