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Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: which has better ROI?

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

The verdict

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 $32,473 at Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasurePrism Career Institute-PhiladelphiaAviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia
Net price / yr$29,960$25,437
Total net cost$119,840$101,748
Median earnings, 10 yrs$32,473$42,785
Median debt$17,200$32,397
Payback
20-year net return-$437,580-$213,248

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

Which is cheaper, Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?

Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, at $25,437 a year after aid versus $29,960 — a gap of $4,523 a year, or $18,092 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?

Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates report a median $42,785 ten years after entry, $10,312 more than the $32,473 at Prism Career Institute-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, Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?

Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia: its completers carry a median $17,200 in federal loans versus $32,397 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, a difference of $15,197. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

63% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, against 55% at Prism Career Institute-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.

Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: frequently asked questions

Is Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia a better value?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia 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, Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: $25,437/yr net price after aid versus $29,960/yr at Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia — a difference of $4,523 a year, or about $18,092 over four years.
Do Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn a median $42,785 ten years after entry, versus $32,473 at Prism Career Institute-Philadelphia — a $10,312 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.