South University-Savannah Online vs American InterContinental University-Atlanta: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but American InterContinental University-Atlanta comes closer — median earnings $36,144 against a $65,928 total, vs $34,421 at South University-Savannah Online. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South University-Savannah Online | American InterContinental University-Atlanta |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,049 | $16,482 |
| Total net cost | $112,196 | $65,928 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,421 | $36,144 |
| Median debt | $26,123 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$390,976 | -$310,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, South University-Savannah Online or American InterContinental University-Atlanta?
American InterContinental University-Atlanta, at $16,482 a year after aid versus $28,049 — a gap of $11,567 a year, or $46,268 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do South University-Savannah Online or American InterContinental University-Atlanta graduates earn more?
American InterContinental University-Atlanta graduates report a median $36,144 ten years after entry, $1,723 more than the $34,421 at South University-Savannah Online. 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, South University-Savannah Online or American InterContinental University-Atlanta?
South University-Savannah Online: its completers carry a median $26,123 in federal loans versus $31,000 at American InterContinental University-Atlanta, a difference of $4,877. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
21% of students finish at American InterContinental University-Atlanta, against 7% at South University-Savannah Online. 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.