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Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics

Private nonprofit West Mifflin, PA · Suburban · Mid-Atlantic · 80% data
A Earnings B Social Mobility B- Graduation
Graduation Rate
69% B-
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$66,642 A
Top 9% nationally — exceptional earning power
Net Price
$32,618 F
90% more than the typical college
Enrollment
663
Earnings +63% vs avg
Graduation +21% vs avg
Net Price 90% vs avg
Mobility Top 22%

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 11.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $11.7 over 20 years.

11.7× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $11.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,391,311.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduates earn 63% more than the national college median.

  3. Social mobility rate of 2.22% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $11.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics Matters

Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is a private college in West Mifflin, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 9% of all U.S. colleges.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
663
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Mechanic & Repair Tech

Why students choose Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 9% of colleges
Strength in Mechanic & Repair Tech
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 46% overall
A
Earnings
$66,642 median
C-
Value
2.0× net price
F
Affordability
$32,618/yr net
B-
Graduation
69% graduate
B
Social Mobility
2.2% climb Q1→Q5
D
Diversity
0.34 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

At the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, students dive into hands-on learning focused on mechanic and repair technology. With an enrollment of 663, this school attracts those eager for a focused education that leads directly to skilled trades. The graduation rate of 69% reflects a solid commitment to seeing students through to their diplomas, underscoring a supportive environment for those passionate about aviation careers.

Looking ahead, graduates enjoy a strong earning potential with an average salary of $66,642 just ten years after completing their program. This figure illustrates the value of the skills learned at the institute, making it a practical choice for students who want to build a financially stable future. With 38% of students receiving Pell Grants, it's clear that the school is accessible to those from varying economic backgrounds, providing opportunities for many.

When considering the financial aspects, the net price after aid stands at $32,618, alongside a median debt of $12,230. This manageable debt level suggests that most students can thrive here without being burdened by overwhelming financial obligations. The combination of focused training and reasonable costs makes this institute a great fit for individuals determined to succeed in the aviation field.

Can I Get In?

How selective Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 69%.

Retention Rate
78%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$4,688
Student–Faculty Ratio
14:1
Diversity Index
0.34
First-Gen Students
37%

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is $18,730, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $32,618. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $28,445 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,230 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$18,730
Out-of-State
$18,730
Avg Net Price
$32,618
Median Debt
$12,230
Pell Grant Rate
38%
Federal Loan Rate
66%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$28,445
Family Income $30K–$48K
$29,124
Family Income $48K–$75K
$30,623
Family Income $110K+
$36,940

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics earn a median of $66,642, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$59,400
8 Years
$57,730
10 Years
$66,642
Debt-to-Earnings
0.18x
Earning > $25K
75%

Earnings Trajectory

$59,400 6yr $57,730 8yr $66,642 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (87)
60%
100% (87)
60%
100% (87)
60%
100% (87)
60%

How Pittsburgh Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation69%Earnings 10yr$67KNet Price$33KRetention78%Median Debt$12KPell Grant Rate38%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$28K$0-30K$29K$30-48K$31K$48-75K$37K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%8.5%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%26.1%MOBILITY2.22%

College ROI Calculator

Is Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $32,618/year ($130,472 total). Graduates earn $66,642 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,521,783 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,391,311 (11.7× your investment). The median debt is $12,230, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 69% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$130,472
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,521,783
Net Return
$1,391,311
ROI Multiple
11.7×
Cost Per Year
$32,618
Median Debt
$12,230
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
69%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.22%, among the highest in the country. About 8.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
2.22%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
26.1%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
8.5%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$98,366
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. Its economic connectedness score is 1.29, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.29
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.00
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
5.3%
Support Ratio
0.96
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Top Programs

The fields Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 69%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is $18,730, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $32,618. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $28,445 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,230 in federal student loans.

Is Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics earn a median of $66,642, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.22%, among the highest in the country. About 8.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. Its economic connectedness score is 1.29, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys