Head-to-head comparison
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk vs South University-Virginia Beach: which has better ROI?
Option A Norfolk, VA
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk
- Net price / year
- $23,046
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,173
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Virginia Beach, VA
South University-Virginia Beach
- Net price / year
- $27,843
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,421
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk comes closer — median earnings $44,173 against a $92,184 total, vs $34,421 at South University-Virginia Beach. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk | South University-Virginia Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,046 | $27,843 |
| Total net cost | $92,184 | $111,372 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,173 | $34,421 |
| Median debt | $29,375 | $26,123 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$175,924 | -$390,152 |
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-Norfolk or South University-Virginia Beach?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk, at $23,046 a year after aid versus $27,843 — a gap of $4,797 a year, or $19,188 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-Norfolk or South University-Virginia Beach graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk graduates report a median $44,173 ten years after entry, $9,752 more than the $34,421 at South University-Virginia Beach. 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-Norfolk or South University-Virginia Beach?
South University-Virginia Beach: its completers carry a median $26,123 in federal loans versus $29,375 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk, a difference of $3,252. 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?
79% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk, against 8% at South University-Virginia Beach. 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.