Rutgers University-Newark vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro: which has better ROI?
Rutgers University-Newark has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $78,812 in 3 years versus 3.9 years at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro, on median earnings of $74,479 vs $73,971 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rutgers University-Newark | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,703 | $24,800 |
| Total net cost | $78,812 | $99,200 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $74,479 | $73,971 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $14,279 |
| Payback | 3 yrs | 3.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $443,568 | $413,020 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Rutgers University-Newark or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro?
Rutgers University-Newark, at $19,703 a year after aid versus $24,800 — a gap of $5,097 a year, or $20,388 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Rutgers University-Newark or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro graduates earn more?
Rutgers University-Newark graduates report a median $74,479 ten years after entry, $508 more than the $73,971 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro. 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, Rutgers University-Newark or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Teterboro: its completers carry a median $14,279 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Rutgers University-Newark, a difference of $7,221. 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-Teterboro, against 64% at Rutgers University-Newark. 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.