Head-to-head comparison
Norfolk State University vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas: which has better ROI?
Option A Norfolk, VA
Norfolk State University
- Net price / year
- $15,282
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,666
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Manassas, VA
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas
- Net price / year
- $27,320
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,441
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Norfolk State University comes closer — median earnings $44,666 against a $61,128 total, vs $46,441 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Norfolk State University | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,282 | $27,320 |
| Total net cost | $61,128 | $109,280 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,666 | $46,441 |
| Median debt | $29,000 | $31,959 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$135,008 | -$147,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Norfolk State University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas?
Norfolk State University, at $15,282 a year after aid versus $27,320 — a gap of $12,038 a year, or $48,152 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 Norfolk State University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas graduates report a median $46,441 ten years after entry, $1,775 more than the $44,666 at Norfolk State 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, Norfolk State University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas?
Norfolk State University: its completers carry a median $29,000 in federal loans versus $31,959 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas, a difference of $2,959. 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?
82% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas, against 39% at Norfolk State 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.