Head-to-head comparison
Atlanta Metropolitan State College vs American InterContinental University-Atlanta: which has better ROI?
Option A Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Metropolitan State College
- Net price / year
- $5,258
- Earnings, 10 years
- $33,252
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Atlanta, GA
American InterContinental University-Atlanta
- Net price / year
- $16,482
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,144
- 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 $33,252 at Atlanta Metropolitan State College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Atlanta Metropolitan State College | American InterContinental University-Atlanta |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,258 | $16,482 |
| Total net cost | $10,516 | $65,928 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,252 | $36,144 |
| Median debt | $14,123 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$312,676 | -$310,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Atlanta Metropolitan State College or American InterContinental University-Atlanta?
Atlanta Metropolitan State College, at $5,258 a year after aid versus $16,482 — a gap of $11,224 a year, or $55,412 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 Atlanta Metropolitan State College or American InterContinental University-Atlanta graduates earn more?
American InterContinental University-Atlanta graduates report a median $36,144 ten years after entry, $2,892 more than the $33,252 at Atlanta Metropolitan State 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 leaves students with less debt, Atlanta Metropolitan State College or American InterContinental University-Atlanta?
Atlanta Metropolitan State College: its completers carry a median $14,123 in federal loans versus $31,000 at American InterContinental University-Atlanta, a difference of $16,877. 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?
21% of students finish at American InterContinental University-Atlanta, against 17% at Atlanta Metropolitan State 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.