American International College
Springfield, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit · 99.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 38/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
American International College, a private nonprofit in Springfield, Massachusetts, posts a Poor Value ROI score of 38/100. Sticker tuition is $44,230 but the average net price after aid is $23,274, totaling $93,096 over four years. Median earnings six years after entry are $41,700, climbing to $53,124 by year ten - solid but not enough to offset the cost given a 45.9% completion rate. Median federal debt of $27,000 produces a 0.647 debt-to-earnings ratio and a 12.9-year payback period. The 60.5% three-year repayment rate is below the healthy threshold. AIC's Nursing program is its strongest value proposition: 35 graduates earning $79,889 in year one and $95,137 by year four. The school's other programs - Criminal Justice, Business, Psychology - produce modest earnings that don't justify the cost for borrowers. AIC plays a regional access role in Western Massachusetts but the borrowing math is challenging for most students.
The data raises concerns about American International College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score38/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
American International College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $44,230/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $44,230/yr |
| Average net price | $23,274/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $93,096 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,124 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 45.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,017 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $44,230/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $23,274/year, or roughly $93,096 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $24,437/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,860/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $27,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $53,124 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.65, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 | $24,437 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $24,073 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,749 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,772 |
| $110,001+ | $21,860 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $24,437 net per year, and the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $24,073. Pell and MASSGrant help, but four-year cost above $95,000 is heavy against $41,700 in median early-career earnings.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $22,749 - the lowest of any income bracket on AIC's pricing table, an unusual pattern - and $75,001-$110,000 pays $24,772. The brackets are notably flat and slightly inverted, signaling that AIC's institutional aid does not scale strongly with income.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay just $21,860 per year - actually the LOWEST bracket on the table. This is a clear inverted-bracket anomaly, likely reflecting merit-aid weighting that favors high-stat, full-pay-eligible applicants. Full-pay families should verify against the school's net price calculator since the published figure may not reflect typical offers.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at American International College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $95,137 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,021 | D |
| Psychology | $53,219 | C |
| Public Health | $58,245 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $57,903 | D |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $72,747 | B |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $63,629 | - |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $57,510 | C+ |
| Sociology | $61,173 | C |
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.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is AIC's flagship: 35 graduates, $79,889 in first-year earnings rising to $95,137 by year four, C+ ROI grade and a 0.469 debt-to-earnings ratio. The grade is held back by median debt of $37,500 - higher than typical because Nursing students borrow more. Direct placement into Baystate Health and other Western Massachusetts hospitals supports the strong wages.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice is tied for the largest cohort (35 grads) and earns a D ROI grade. First-year earnings of $37,408 against $29,750 of median debt produce a 0.795 ratio. Career paths into Massachusetts state and municipal law enforcement exist but starting salaries in Western Mass are lower than eastern Mass.
Psychology
Psychology (23 grads) earns a C ROI grade. First-year earnings of $40,467 climb to $53,219 by year four with $27,000 of median debt, yielding a 0.667 ratio. Most graduates require graduate study to reach higher earnings; the bachelor's-terminal pipeline lands in case management or HR-adjacent roles.
Public Health
Public Health (14 grads) earns a C+ ROI grade. Four-year earnings of $58,245 against $31,000 of debt yield a 0.532 ratio. Massachusetts' robust public health workforce and AIC's pipeline into community health organizations support the placement. Many graduates continue to MPH programs, lifting late-career earnings.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (14 grads) earns a D ROI grade. First-year earnings of $35,781 are notably low for a Business cohort, and the $30,120 in median debt produces a 0.842 debt-to-earnings ratio. Four-year earnings of $57,903 partially recover, but the program is not a strong value proposition relative to peer institutions.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 53.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 60.5% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 53.2% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 61.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How American International College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 99.6% |
| Enrollment | 1,017 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 44.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,628 |
AIC admits 99.6% of applicants - effectively open admission - and does not report SAT or ACT mid-ranges, signaling a fully test-optional access mission. The near-100% admit rate combined with the absence of test data confirms that students arrive with a wide range of academic preparation, which correlates directly with the 45.9% completion rate. Students with stronger high-school records or specific career intent (Nursing prereqs) tend to drive the upper end of outcomes.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
AIC's peer set is uneven: Amherst College is one of the country's top liberal arts colleges and not a meaningful comparison. Anna Maria College, Geneva College, Our Lady of the Lake University, and Peirce College are closer structural peers - small private nonprofits with similar tier rankings. Among the legitimate peers, AIC's Nursing earnings outperform Anna Maria and Our Lady of the Lake, while its overall ROI sits below Geneva College. Springfield-area students should also benchmark Western New England University and Westfield State.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| American International College (this school) | 38 | $23,274 | $53,124 |
| Amherst College | 90 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
| Geneva College | 38 | $25,890 | $50,004 |
| Peirce College | 38 | $12,148 | $50,660 |
| Our Lady of the Lake University | 35 | $16,442 | $48,675 |
| Anna Maria College | 28 | $28,333 | $46,651 |
Who Thrives Here
Pell rate of 44.8% and enrollment of 1,017 mark AIC as a small, mid-income leaning private serving Western Massachusetts and Hartford-area students. The school fits students who want a small-campus residential experience with strong Nursing and Health Sciences pipelines into Baystate Health and Mercy Medical Center. Students pursuing Nursing, Public Health, or Health Sciences capture nearly all of the school's ROI upside. Those declared in Criminal Justice or Business face tighter loan math.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at American International College are a real concern. With a net cost of $23,274 per year and the typical graduate earning only $53,124 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 12.9 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 45.9% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn, concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $27,000 against $53,124 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.