Head-to-head comparison
American InterContinental University System vs Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix: which has better ROI?
Option A Chandler, AZ
American InterContinental University System
- Net price / year
- $15,172
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,144
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Avondale, AZ
Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix
- Net price / year
- $24,863
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,341
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix comes closer — median earnings $48,341 against a $99,452 total, vs $36,144 at American InterContinental University System. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | American InterContinental University System | Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,172 | $24,863 |
| Total net cost | $60,688 | $99,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,144 | $48,341 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $13,097 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$305,008 | -$99,832 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, American InterContinental University System or Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix?
American InterContinental University System, at $15,172 a year after aid versus $24,863 — a gap of $9,691 a year, or $38,764 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 System or Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix graduates earn more?
Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix graduates report a median $48,341 ten years after entry, $12,197 more than the $36,144 at American InterContinental University System. 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 leaves students with less debt, American InterContinental University System or Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix?
Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix: its completers carry a median $13,097 in federal loans versus $31,000 at American InterContinental University System, a difference of $17,903. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Universal Technical Institute-Phoenix, against 9% at American InterContinental University System. 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.