Head-to-head comparison
Virginia Western Community College vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas: which has better ROI?
Option A Roanoke, VA
Virginia Western Community College
- Net price / year
- $4,966
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,787
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Manassas, VA
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas
- Net price / year
- $27,320
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,441
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas comes closer — median earnings $46,441 against a $109,280 total, vs $38,787 at Virginia Western Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Virginia Western Community College | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,966 | $27,320 |
| Total net cost | $19,864 | $109,280 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,787 | $46,441 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $31,959 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$211,324 | -$147,660 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Virginia Western Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas?
Virginia Western Community College, at $4,966 a year after aid versus $27,320 — a gap of $22,354 a year, or $89,416 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 Virginia Western Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas graduates report a median $46,441 ten years after entry, $7,654 more than the $38,787 at Virginia Western Community College. 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, Virginia Western Community College or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas?
Virginia Western Community College: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $31,959 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas, a difference of $20,959. 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?
82% of students finish at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas, against 40% at Virginia Western Community College. 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.