Head-to-head comparison
Dickinson College vs Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics: which has better ROI?
Option A Carlisle, PA
Dickinson College
- Net price / year
- $37,607
- Earnings, 10 years
- $70,204
- Payback
- 6.9 yrs
Option B West Mifflin, PA
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics
- Net price / year
- $32,618
- Earnings, 10 years
- $66,642
- Payback
- 7.1 yrs
Dickinson College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $150,428 in 6.9 years versus 7.1 years at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, on median earnings of $70,204 vs $66,642 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dickinson College | Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $37,607 | $32,618 |
| Total net cost | $150,428 | $130,472 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $70,204 | $66,642 |
| Median debt | $19,000 | $12,230 |
| Payback | 6.9 yrs | 7.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $286,452 | $235,168 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Dickinson College or Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics?
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, at $32,618 a year after aid versus $37,607 — a gap of $4,989 a year, or $19,956 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 Dickinson College or Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics graduates earn more?
Dickinson College graduates report a median $70,204 ten years after entry, $3,562 more than the $66,642 at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. 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, Dickinson College or Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics?
Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics: its completers carry a median $12,230 in federal loans versus $19,000 at Dickinson College, a difference of $6,770. 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?
80% of students finish at Dickinson College, against 76% at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. 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.