Head-to-head comparison
Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: which has better ROI?
Option A Lancaster, PA
Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork
- Net price / year
- $11,971
- Earnings, 10 years
- $29,738
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Philadelphia, PA
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia
- Net price / year
- $25,437
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,785
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia comes closer — median earnings $42,785 against a $101,748 total, vs $29,738 at Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,971 | $25,437 |
| Total net cost | $47,884 | $101,748 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $29,738 | $42,785 |
| Median debt | $3,167 | $32,397 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$420,324 | -$213,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork, at $11,971 a year after aid versus $25,437 — a gap of $13,466 a year, or $53,864 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 Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates report a median $42,785 ten years after entry, $13,047 more than the $29,738 at Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork. 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, Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork: its completers carry a median $3,167 in federal loans versus $32,397 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, a difference of $29,230. 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 Lancaster School of Cosmetology & Therapeutic Bodywork, against 63% at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia. 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.