Head-to-head comparison
American InterContinental University-Atlanta vs Paine College: which has better ROI?
Option A Atlanta, GA
American InterContinental University-Atlanta
- Net price / year
- $16,482
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,144
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Augusta, GA
Paine College
- Net price / year
- $16,670
- Earnings, 10 years
- $33,338
- Payback
- No payback
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 $33,338 at Paine College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American InterContinental University-Atlanta | Paine College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,482 | $16,670 |
| Total net cost | $65,928 | $66,680 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,144 | $33,338 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$310,248 | -$367,120 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, American InterContinental University-Atlanta or Paine College?
American InterContinental University-Atlanta, at $16,482 a year after aid versus $16,670 — a gap of $188 a year, or $752 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do American InterContinental University-Atlanta or Paine College graduates earn more?
American InterContinental University-Atlanta graduates report a median $36,144 ten years after entry, $2,806 more than the $33,338 at Paine 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.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
21% of students finish at American InterContinental University-Atlanta, against 14% at Paine 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.