Head-to-head comparison
Olivet Nazarene University vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago: which has better ROI?
Option A Bourbonnais, IL
Olivet Nazarene University
- Net price / year
- $20,729
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,213
- Payback
- 17.1 yrs
Option B Chicago, IL
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago
- Net price / year
- $27,347
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,341
- Payback
- 22 yrs
Olivet Nazarene University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,916 in 17.1 years versus 22 years at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago, on median earnings of $53,213 vs $53,341 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Olivet Nazarene University | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,729 | $27,347 |
| Total net cost | $82,916 | $109,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,213 | $53,341 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $31,301 |
| Payback | 17.1 yrs | 22 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $14,144 | -$9,768 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Olivet Nazarene University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago?
Olivet Nazarene University, at $20,729 a year after aid versus $27,347 — a gap of $6,618 a year, or $26,472 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 Olivet Nazarene 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, $128 more than the $53,213 at Olivet Nazarene 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, Olivet Nazarene University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago?
Olivet Nazarene University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $31,301 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Chicago, a difference of $6,301. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.