Porter & Chester Institute vs American Institute-West Hartford: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Porter & Chester Institute comes closer — median earnings $41,588 against a $73,392 total, vs $28,710 at American Institute-West Hartford. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Porter & Chester Institute | American Institute-West Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,348 | $19,316 |
| Total net cost | $73,392 | $77,264 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,588 | $28,710 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $11,979 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$208,832 | -$470,264 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Porter & Chester Institute or American Institute-West Hartford?
Porter & Chester Institute, at $18,348 a year after aid versus $19,316 — a gap of $968 a year, or $3,872 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Porter & Chester Institute or American Institute-West Hartford graduates earn more?
Porter & Chester Institute graduates report a median $41,588 ten years after entry, $12,878 more than the $28,710 at American Institute-West Hartford. 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, Porter & Chester Institute or American Institute-West Hartford?
American Institute-West Hartford: its completers carry a median $11,979 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Porter & Chester Institute, a difference of $21. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
56% of students finish at American Institute-West Hartford, against 45% at Porter & Chester Institute. 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.