Head-to-head comparison
Pennco Tech-Blackwood vs American Institute-Toms River: which has better ROI?
Option A Blackwood, NJ
Pennco Tech-Blackwood
- Net price / year
- $22,671
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,013
- 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 Pennco Tech-Blackwood comes closer — median earnings $42,013 against a $90,684 total, vs $28,710 at American Institute-Toms River. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pennco Tech-Blackwood | American Institute-Toms River |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,671 | $19,781 |
| Total net cost | $90,684 | $79,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,013 | $28,710 |
| Median debt | $8,331 | $11,979 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$217,624 | -$472,124 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pennco Tech-Blackwood or American Institute-Toms River?
American Institute-Toms River, at $19,781 a year after aid versus $22,671 — a gap of $2,890 a year, or $11,560 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 Pennco Tech-Blackwood or American Institute-Toms River graduates earn more?
Pennco Tech-Blackwood graduates report a median $42,013 ten years after entry, $13,303 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, Pennco Tech-Blackwood or American Institute-Toms River?
Pennco Tech-Blackwood: its completers carry a median $8,331 in federal loans versus $11,979 at American Institute-Toms River, a difference of $3,648. 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?
72% of students finish at Pennco Tech-Blackwood, 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.