Head-to-head comparison
Millikin University vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago: which has better ROI?
Option A Decatur, IL
Millikin University
- Net price / year
- $21,989
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,262
- Payback
- 30.3 yrs
Option B Chicago, IL
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago
- Net price / year
- $27,347
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,341
- Payback
- 22 yrs
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $109,388 in 22 years versus 30.3 years at Millikin University, on median earnings of $53,341 vs $51,262 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Millikin University | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,989 | $27,347 |
| Total net cost | $87,956 | $109,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,262 | $53,341 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $31,301 |
| Payback | 30.3 yrs | 22 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$29,916 | -$9,768 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Millikin University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago?
Millikin University, at $21,989 a year after aid versus $27,347 — a gap of $5,358 a year, or $21,432 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 Millikin University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago graduates report a median $53,341 ten years after entry, $2,079 more than the $51,262 at Millikin University. 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, Millikin University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago?
Millikin University: its completers carry a median $27,000 in federal loans versus $31,301 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago, a difference of $4,301. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.