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Westmoreland County Community College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: which has better ROI?

Public, Youngwood PA · vs · Private for-profit, Philadelphia PA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia comes closer — median earnings $42,785 against a $101,748 total, vs $37,439 at Westmoreland County Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureWestmoreland County Community CollegeAviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia
Net price / yr$5,167$25,437
Total net cost$10,334$101,748
Median earnings, 10 yrs$37,439$42,785
Median debt$11,000$32,397
Payback
20-year net return-$228,754-$213,248

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Westmoreland County Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?

Westmoreland County Community College, at $5,167 a year after aid versus $25,437 — a gap of $20,270 a year, or $91,414 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Westmoreland County Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?

Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates report a median $42,785 ten years after entry, $5,346 more than the $37,439 at Westmoreland County 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, Westmoreland County Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?

Westmoreland County Community College: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $32,397 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, a difference of $21,397. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

63% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, against 31% at Westmoreland County 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.

Westmoreland County Community College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: frequently asked questions

Is Westmoreland County Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia a better value?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Westmoreland County Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Westmoreland County Community College: $5,167/yr net price after aid versus $25,437/yr at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia — a difference of $20,270 a year, or about $91,414 over four years.
Do Westmoreland County Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn a median $42,785 ten years after entry, versus $37,439 at Westmoreland County Community College — a $5,346 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.