Head-to-head comparison
Elizabeth City State University vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte: which has better ROI?
Option A Elizabeth City, NC
Elizabeth City State University
- Net price / year
- $6,364
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,026
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Charlotte, NC
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte
- Net price / year
- $25,733
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,759
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Elizabeth City State University comes closer — median earnings $40,026 against a $25,456 total, vs $42,759 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Elizabeth City State University | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,364 | $25,733 |
| Total net cost | $25,456 | $102,932 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,026 | $42,759 |
| Median debt | $21,463 | $29,773 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$192,136 | -$214,952 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Elizabeth City State University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?
Elizabeth City State University, at $6,364 a year after aid versus $25,733 — a gap of $19,369 a year, or $77,476 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 Elizabeth City State University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte graduates report a median $42,759 ten years after entry, $2,733 more than the $40,026 at Elizabeth City State University. 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, Elizabeth City State University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?
Elizabeth City State University: its completers carry a median $21,463 in federal loans versus $29,773 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte, a difference of $8,310. 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?
70% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte, against 44% at Elizabeth City State University. 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.