Head-to-head comparison
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas: which has better ROI?
Option A Richmond, VA
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
- Net price / year
- $5,168
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,529
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Manassas, VA
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas
- Net price / year
- $27,320
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,441
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas comes closer — median earnings $46,441 against a $109,280 total, vs $39,529 at J Sargeant Reynolds Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,168 | $27,320 |
| Total net cost | $20,672 | $109,280 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,529 | $46,441 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $31,959 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$197,292 | -$147,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas?
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College, at $5,168 a year after aid versus $27,320 — a gap of $22,152 a year, or $88,608 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 J Sargeant Reynolds Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas graduates report a median $46,441 ten years after entry, $6,912 more than the $39,529 at J Sargeant Reynolds Community 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, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas?
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $31,959 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas, a difference of $21,459. 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?
82% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas, against 32% at J Sargeant Reynolds Community 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.