Head-to-head comparison
University of North Carolina Asheville vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte: which has better ROI?
Option A Asheville, NC
University of North Carolina Asheville
- Net price / year
- $12,250
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,030
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Charlotte, NC
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte
- Net price / year
- $25,733
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,759
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of North Carolina Asheville comes closer — median earnings $44,030 against a $49,000 total, vs $42,759 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of North Carolina Asheville | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,250 | $25,733 |
| Total net cost | $49,000 | $102,932 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,030 | $42,759 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $29,773 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$135,600 | -$214,952 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of North Carolina Asheville or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?
University of North Carolina Asheville, at $12,250 a year after aid versus $25,733 — a gap of $13,483 a year, or $53,932 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 North Carolina Asheville or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte graduates earn more?
University of North Carolina Asheville graduates report a median $44,030 ten years after entry, $1,271 more than the $42,759 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte. 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 North Carolina Asheville or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?
University of North Carolina Asheville: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $29,773 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte, a difference of $9,273. 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?
70% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte, against 54% at University of North Carolina Asheville. 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.