Head-to-head comparison
University of Houston-Downtown vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston: which has better ROI?
Option A Houston, TX
University of Houston-Downtown
- Net price / year
- $10,542
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,551
- Payback
- 8.1 yrs
Option B Houston, TX
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston
- Net price / year
- $23,529
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,327
- Payback
- 9.4 yrs
University of Houston-Downtown has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $42,168 in 8.1 years versus 9.4 years at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston, on median earnings of $53,551 vs $58,327 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Houston-Downtown | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,542 | $23,529 |
| Total net cost | $42,168 | $94,116 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,551 | $58,327 |
| Median debt | $18,750 | $31,875 |
| Payback | 8.1 yrs | 9.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $61,652 | $105,224 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Houston-Downtown or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston?
University of Houston-Downtown, at $10,542 a year after aid versus $23,529 — a gap of $12,987 a year, or $51,948 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 University of Houston-Downtown or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston graduates report a median $58,327 ten years after entry, $4,776 more than the $53,551 at University of Houston-Downtown. 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, University of Houston-Downtown or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston?
University of Houston-Downtown: its completers carry a median $18,750 in federal loans versus $31,875 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Houston, a difference of $13,125. 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 33% at University of Houston-Downtown. 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.