Head-to-head comparison
University of North Carolina at Greensboro vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte: which has better ROI?
Option A Greensboro, NC
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Net price / year
- $10,965
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,160
- 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 at Greensboro comes closer — median earnings $48,160 against a $43,860 total, vs $42,759 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,965 | $25,733 |
| Total net cost | $43,860 | $102,932 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,160 | $42,759 |
| Median debt | $22,858 | $29,773 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$47,860 | -$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 at Greensboro or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, at $10,965 a year after aid versus $25,733 — a gap of $14,768 a year, or $59,072 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 at Greensboro or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte graduates earn more?
University of North Carolina at Greensboro graduates report a median $48,160 ten years after entry, $5,401 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 at Greensboro or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte?
University of North Carolina at Greensboro: its completers carry a median $22,858 in federal loans versus $29,773 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte, a difference of $6,915. 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 56% at University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 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.