Amarillo College vs Culinary Institute Inc: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Amarillo College comes closer — median earnings $41,302 against a $9,200 total, vs $32,195 at Culinary Institute Inc. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Amarillo College | Culinary Institute Inc |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,600 | $30,428 |
| Total net cost | $9,200 | $60,856 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,302 | $32,195 |
| Median debt | $15,000 | $16,004 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$150,360 | -$384,156 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Amarillo College or Culinary Institute Inc?
Amarillo College, at $4,600 a year after aid versus $30,428 — a gap of $25,828 a year, or $51,656 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Amarillo College or Culinary Institute Inc graduates earn more?
Amarillo College graduates report a median $41,302 ten years after entry, $9,107 more than the $32,195 at Culinary Institute Inc. 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Amarillo College or Culinary Institute Inc?
Amarillo College: its completers carry a median $15,000 in federal loans versus $16,004 at Culinary Institute Inc, a difference of $1,004. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
100% of students finish at Culinary Institute Inc, against 32% at Amarillo 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.