Reading Area Community College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Reading Area Community College comes closer — median earnings $39,082 against a $18,456 total, vs $42,785 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Reading Area Community College | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,228 | $25,437 |
| Total net cost | $18,456 | $101,748 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,082 | $42,785 |
| Median debt | $8,750 | $32,397 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$204,016 | -$213,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Reading Area Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Reading Area Community College, at $9,228 a year after aid versus $25,437 — a gap of $16,209 a year, or $83,292 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Reading Area Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates report a median $42,785 ten years after entry, $3,703 more than the $39,082 at Reading Area Community 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, Reading Area Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Reading Area Community College: its completers carry a median $8,750 in federal loans versus $32,397 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, a difference of $23,647. 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 34% at Reading Area Community 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.