American InterContinental University-Houston
Houston, Texas · Private For-Profit
ROI Score: 6/100 · Poor Value
American InterContinental University-Houston earns one of the lowest ROI scores on CampusROI -- just 6 out of 100, in the Poor Value tier, with red-flag sub-scores across nearly every dimension. The completion rate is a staggering 4.6%, meaning roughly 19 out of every 20 students who enroll do not finish. The payback period is calculated at 193.2 years -- effectively, on the data we have, earnings never recoup the cost of attendance for the typical entrant. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $36,144, just 1.4% higher than the average high school graduate, while median debt is $31,000 and the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.934. Tuition is $14,829 per year but the average net price is $20,249 -- net price exceeds tuition because room, board, and fees pile on top with minimal institutional aid offsetting them. Three-year repayment is only 35.7%, meaning the majority of borrowers are not making meaningful progress on their loans. This is a for-profit institution that, on the federal data, fails the most basic ROI test. Prospective students would be far better served by Houston Community College or any Texas regional public.
The data raises concerns about American InterContinental University-Houston
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score6/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate4.5% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
American InterContinental University-Houston
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $14,829/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $14,829/yr |
| Average net price | $20,249/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $80,996 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $36,144 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $31,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $329 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 4.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 94 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at American InterContinental University-Houston is $14,829/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $20,249/year, or roughly $80,996 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $20,152/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
The median graduate leaves with $31,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $329 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $36,144 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.93 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $20,152 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,541 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | N/A |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay an average net price of $20,152 per year. Over four years that's roughly $81,000 -- crushing for low-income families. Combined with a 4.6% completion rate, this is the worst-case scenario: low-income students take on substantial debt and most never finish. The math here does not work at any honest analysis.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Net price data for the $48,001-$75,000 and $75,001-$110,000 brackets is not reported in current Scorecard data, likely because too few middle-income families enroll for the figures to be statistically reliable. Any middle-income family considering AIU-Houston should treat the absence of this data as itself a signal -- the school primarily serves Pell-eligible students, and middle-income families would be paying full sticker.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Net price data for the $110,001-plus bracket is not reported. Higher-income families would almost certainly pay close to full sticker -- $20,249 per year, $81,000 over four years -- with a completion-rate ceiling under 5%. There is no realistic ROI case for higher-income families at this institution.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at American InterContinental University-Houston with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $53,959 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $45,672 | F |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $71,486 | D |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $47,083 | F |
| Accounting | $53,956 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is AIU-Houston's largest program with 15 graduates per year and produces an F ROI grade. Median earnings of $43,528 one year out and $53,959 at four years against a stunning $49,961 of debt produce a 1.148 debt-to-earnings ratio -- graduates owe more than they earn in their first year. The same credential is available for a fraction of the cost at University of Houston-Downtown or any Texas regional public; there is no defensible reason to enroll here for business.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 5 students per year with an F ROI grade. Median earnings of $35,862 one year out against $47,500 of debt produce a 1.325 debt-to-earnings ratio. Police, corrections, and probation work in Texas does not require this credential -- most agencies hire with associate degrees or completion of academy training, both of which are dramatically cheaper paths.
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health Admin graduates 2 students per year with an F ROI grade. Median earnings of $40,754 one year out against $52,813 of debt produce a 1.296 debt-to-earnings ratio. The graduate count itself signals a thin program; combined with the debt math, this is not a viable path.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences is the highest-earning program at AIU-Houston ($51,687 first year, $71,486 at four years) but still produces only a D ROI grade because median debt is $45,606 and the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.882. Only 2 graduates per year, which is concerning for program scale and quality. The same field is taught at University of Houston for fraction of the cost with vastly better completion.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 27.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 35.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 29.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 39.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 94 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 68.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,818 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data, and SAT/ACT mid-ranges are also unavailable -- consistent with for-profit institutions that operate on rolling, near-open-access enrollment. The 4.6% completion rate signals that whatever the admit rate is in practice, the institution is not effectively matriculating students through to a degree. Anyone considering enrollment should weigh that completion figure carefully -- it is the single most important number on this profile.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
AIU-Houston's named peers are largely other for-profit and proprietary schools that face similar structural challenges: DeVry University-Florida, Chamberlain University-Texas, Stevens-The Institute of Business and Arts, Wade College, and Northwest College of Art and Design. ROI scores across this peer cluster tend to range from very low to mid-30s; AIU-Houston at 6 sits at the bottom even by for-profit peer standards, primarily driven by its catastrophic completion rate. Chamberlain (a nursing-focused for-profit) is the strongest peer; the rest cluster near the bottom of the national distribution.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| American InterContinental University-Houston (this school) | 6 | $20,249 | $36,144 |
| South University-Montgomery | 7 | $27,807 | $34,421 |
| South University-Virginia Beach | 7 | $27,843 | $34,421 |
| South University-Savannah Online | 7 | $28,049 | $34,421 |
| South University-Austin | 7 | $25,680 | $34,421 |
| American InterContinental University System | 6 | $15,172 | $36,144 |
Who Thrives Here
Honestly, almost no one fits here on financial merit. With an enrollment of just 94 students, a 68.6% Pell rate, and a 4.6% completion rate, AIU-Houston primarily serves working-class and low-income adult learners -- exactly the population least able to absorb the financial damage when the school does not deliver a credential. Students drawn to AIU's offerings (business, criminal justice, health admin, IT) can find virtually identical programs at Houston Community College, Lone Star College, or University of Houston-Downtown for a fraction of the cost and with completion rates 10-15x higher.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about American InterContinental University-Houston. With a net cost of $20,249 per year and median graduate earnings of only $36,144 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 4.5% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $31,000 against $36,144 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
New analyses, updated school profiles, and tools - when there’s something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.