Head-to-head comparison
Mercyhurst University vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia: which has better ROI?
Option A Erie, PA
Mercyhurst University
- Net price / year
- $19,444
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,452
- 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 Mercyhurst University comes closer — median earnings $47,452 against a $77,776 total, vs $42,785 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mercyhurst University | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,444 | $25,437 |
| Total net cost | $77,776 | $101,748 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,452 | $42,785 |
| Median debt | $25,305 | $32,397 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$95,936 | -$213,248 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Mercyhurst University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Mercyhurst University, at $19,444 a year after aid versus $25,437 — a gap of $5,993 a year, or $23,972 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 Mercyhurst University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia graduates earn more?
Mercyhurst University graduates report a median $47,452 ten years after entry, $4,667 more than the $42,785 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia. 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, Mercyhurst University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia?
Mercyhurst University: its completers carry a median $25,305 in federal loans versus $32,397 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, a difference of $7,092. 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?
63% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Philadelphia, against 60% at Mercyhurst 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.