Head-to-head comparison
St. Mary's University vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston: which has better ROI?
Option A San Antonio, TX
St. Mary's University
- Net price / year
- $21,145
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,955
- Payback
- 9.8 yrs
Option B Houston, TX
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston
- Net price / year
- $23,529
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,327
- Payback
- 9.4 yrs
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $94,116 in 9.4 years versus 9.8 years at St. Mary's University, on median earnings of $58,327 vs $56,955 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St. Mary's University | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $21,145 | $23,529 |
| Total net cost | $84,580 | $94,116 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,955 | $58,327 |
| Median debt | $25,563 | $31,875 |
| Payback | 9.8 yrs | 9.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $87,320 | $105,224 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, St. Mary's University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston?
St. Mary's University, at $21,145 a year after aid versus $23,529 — a gap of $2,384 a year, or $9,536 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 St. Mary's University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston graduates report a median $58,327 ten years after entry, $1,372 more than the $56,955 at St. Mary's 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, St. Mary's University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston?
St. Mary's University: its completers carry a median $25,563 in federal loans versus $31,875 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston, a difference of $6,312. 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?
73% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston, against 59% at St. Mary's 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.