Rowan-Cabarrus Community College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte comes closer — median earnings $42,759 against a $102,932 total, vs $34,936 at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rowan-Cabarrus Community College | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,981 | $25,733 |
| Total net cost | $31,924 | $102,932 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,936 | $42,759 |
| Median debt | $9,458 | $29,773 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$300,404 | -$214,952 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, at $7,981 a year after aid versus $25,733 — a gap of $17,752 a year, or $71,008 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Rowan-Cabarrus Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte graduates report a median $42,759 ten years after entry, $7,823 more than the $34,936 at Rowan-Cabarrus 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, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College: its completers carry a median $9,458 in federal loans versus $29,773 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte, a difference of $20,315. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte, against 35% at Rowan-Cabarrus 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.