Stephens College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Stephens College comes closer — median earnings $43,071 against a $93,836 total, vs $40,743 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Stephens College | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,459 | $26,815 |
| Total net cost | $93,836 | $107,260 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,071 | $40,743 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $30,416 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$199,616 | -$259,600 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Stephens College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City?
Stephens College, at $23,459 a year after aid versus $26,815 — a gap of $3,356 a year, or $13,424 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Stephens College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City graduates earn more?
Stephens College graduates report a median $43,071 ten years after entry, $2,328 more than the $40,743 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City. 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, Stephens College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City?
Stephens College: its completers carry a median $27,000 in federal loans versus $30,416 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Kansas City, a difference of $3,416. 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 43% at Stephens 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.