Head-to-head comparison
Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah vs American Institute-Clifton: which has better ROI?
Option A Mahwah, NJ
Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah
- Net price / year
- $28,968
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,396
- Payback
- No payback
Option B CLIFTON, NJ
American Institute-Clifton
- Net price / year
- $20,371
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,710
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah comes closer — median earnings $46,396 against a $115,872 total, vs $28,710 at American Institute-Clifton. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah | American Institute-Clifton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,968 | $20,371 |
| Total net cost | $115,872 | $81,484 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,396 | $28,710 |
| Median debt | $11,730 | $11,979 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$155,152 | -$474,484 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah or American Institute-Clifton?
American Institute-Clifton, at $20,371 a year after aid versus $28,968 — a gap of $8,597 a year, or $34,388 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 Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah or American Institute-Clifton graduates earn more?
Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah graduates report a median $46,396 ten years after entry, $17,686 more than the $28,710 at American Institute-Clifton. 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, Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah or American Institute-Clifton?
Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah: its completers carry a median $11,730 in federal loans versus $11,979 at American Institute-Clifton, a difference of $249. 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 Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah, against 57% at American Institute-Clifton. 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.