Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia comes closer — median earnings $42,785 against a $101,748 total, vs $33,301 at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pennsylvania College of Art and Design | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,083 | $25,437 |
| Total net cost | $120,332 | $101,748 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,301 | $42,785 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $32,397 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$421,512 | -$213,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, at $25,437 a year after aid versus $30,083 — a gap of $4,646 a year, or $18,584 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Pennsylvania College of Art and Design or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates report a median $42,785 ten years after entry, $9,484 more than the $33,301 at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. 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, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design: its completers carry a median $27,000 in federal loans versus $32,397 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, a difference of $5,397. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, 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.