Head-to-head comparison
Pillar College vs American Institute-Toms River: which has better ROI?
Option A Newark, NJ
Pillar College
- Net price / year
- $8,470
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,577
- 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 Pillar College comes closer — median earnings $45,577 against a $33,880 total, vs $28,710 at American Institute-Toms River. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pillar College | American Institute-Toms River |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,470 | $19,781 |
| Total net cost | $33,880 | $79,124 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,577 | $28,710 |
| Median debt | $21,483 | $11,979 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$89,540 | -$472,124 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pillar College or American Institute-Toms River?
Pillar College, at $8,470 a year after aid versus $19,781 — a gap of $11,311 a year, or $45,244 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 Pillar College or American Institute-Toms River graduates earn more?
Pillar College graduates report a median $45,577 ten years after entry, $16,867 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, Pillar College or American Institute-Toms River?
American Institute-Toms River: its completers carry a median $11,979 in federal loans versus $21,483 at Pillar College, a difference of $9,504. 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?
55% of students finish at American Institute-Toms River, against 38% at Pillar College. 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.