Head-to-head comparison
St. Thomas University vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando: which has better ROI?
Option A Miami Gardens, FL
St. Thomas University
- Net price / year
- $26,312
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,272
- Payback
- 17.8 yrs
Option B Casselberry, FL
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando
- Net price / year
- $24,995
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,341
- Payback
- 20.1 yrs
St. Thomas University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $105,248 in 17.8 years versus 20.1 years at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando, on median earnings of $54,272 vs $53,341 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St. Thomas University | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,312 | $24,995 |
| Total net cost | $105,248 | $99,980 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,272 | $53,341 |
| Median debt | $19,125 | $31,301 |
| Payback | 17.8 yrs | 20.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $12,992 | -$360 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, St. Thomas University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando, at $24,995 a year after aid versus $26,312 — a gap of $1,317 a year, or $5,268 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. Thomas University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando graduates earn more?
St. Thomas University graduates report a median $54,272 ten years after entry, $931 more than the $53,341 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando. 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. Thomas University or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando?
St. Thomas University: its completers carry a median $19,125 in federal loans versus $31,301 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando, a difference of $12,176. 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?
83% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Orlando, against 48% at St. Thomas 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.