Head-to-head comparison
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta vs American InterContinental University-Atlanta: which has better ROI?
Option A Duluth, GA
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta
- Net price / year
- $27,365
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,191
- 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 Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta comes closer — median earnings $48,191 against a $109,460 total, vs $36,144 at American InterContinental University-Atlanta. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta | American InterContinental University-Atlanta |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,365 | $16,482 |
| Total net cost | $109,460 | $65,928 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,191 | $36,144 |
| Median debt | $31,500 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$112,840 | -$310,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta or American InterContinental University-Atlanta?
American InterContinental University-Atlanta, at $16,482 a year after aid versus $27,365 — a gap of $10,883 a year, or $43,532 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 Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta or American InterContinental University-Atlanta graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta graduates report a median $48,191 ten years after entry, $12,047 more than the $36,144 at American InterContinental University-Atlanta. 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, Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta or American InterContinental University-Atlanta?
American InterContinental University-Atlanta: its completers carry a median $31,000 in federal loans versus $31,500 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta, a difference of $500. 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?
46% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Atlanta, against 21% at American InterContinental University-Atlanta. 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.