Saint Louis Community College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City comes closer — median earnings $40,743 against a $107,260 total, vs $35,325 at Saint Louis Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Louis Community College | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,440 | $26,815 |
| Total net cost | $16,880 | $107,260 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,325 | $40,743 |
| Median debt | $6,725 | $30,416 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$277,580 | -$259,600 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Saint Louis Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City?
Saint Louis Community College, at $8,440 a year after aid versus $26,815 — a gap of $18,375 a year, or $90,380 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Saint Louis Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City graduates report a median $40,743 ten years after entry, $5,418 more than the $35,325 at Saint Louis 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, Saint Louis Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City?
Saint Louis Community College: its completers carry a median $6,725 in federal loans versus $30,416 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City, a difference of $23,691. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City, against 21% at Saint Louis 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.