Northwest Career College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas comes closer — median earnings $48,191 against a $104,712 total, vs $27,530 at Northwest Career College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northwest Career College | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,470 | $26,178 |
| Total net cost | $65,880 | $104,712 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $27,530 | $48,191 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $31,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$482,480 | -$108,092 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Northwest Career College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas?
Northwest Career College, at $16,470 a year after aid versus $26,178 — a gap of $9,708 a year, or $38,832 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Northwest Career College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas graduates report a median $48,191 ten years after entry, $20,661 more than the $27,530 at Northwest Career 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 leaves students with less debt, Northwest Career College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas?
Northwest Career College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $31,500 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas, a difference of $22,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
80% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Las Vegas, against 68% at Northwest Career 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.