Southwestern 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 $34,145 at Southwestern Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southwestern Community College | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,207 | $25,733 |
| Total net cost | $10,414 | $102,932 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,145 | $42,759 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $29,773 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$294,714 | -$214,952 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southwestern Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?
Southwestern Community College, at $5,207 a year after aid versus $25,733 — a gap of $20,526 a year, or $92,518 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southwestern 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, $8,614 more than the $34,145 at Southwestern 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, Southwestern Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?
Southwestern Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $29,773 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte, a difference of $19,273. 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 53% at Southwestern 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.