Head-to-head comparison
Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah vs American Institute-Toms River: 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 Toms River, NJ
American Institute-Toms River
- Net price / year
- $19,781
- 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-Toms River. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah | American Institute-Toms River |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,968 | $19,781 |
| Total net cost | $115,872 | $79,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,396 | $28,710 |
| Median debt | $11,730 | $11,979 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$155,152 | -$472,124 |
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-Toms River?
American Institute-Toms River, at $19,781 a year after aid versus $28,968 — a gap of $9,187 a year, or $36,748 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-Toms River 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-Toms River. 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-Toms River?
Lincoln Technical Institute-Mahwah: its completers carry a median $11,730 in federal loans versus $11,979 at American Institute-Toms River, 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 55% at American Institute-Toms River. 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.