Arlington Career Institute vs Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin comes closer — median earnings $36,330 against a $39,128 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arlington Career Institute | Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,633 | $19,564 |
| Total net cost | $98,532 | $39,128 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,674 | $36,330 |
| Median debt | $8,347 | $16,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$332,252 | -$279,728 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arlington Career Institute or Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin?
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin, at $19,564 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $5,069 a year, or $59,404 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Arlington Career Institute or Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin graduates earn more?
Arlington Career Institute graduates report a median $36,674 ten years after entry, $344 more than the $36,330 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin. 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, Arlington Career Institute or Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $16,000 at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin, a difference of $7,653. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
72% of students finish at Arlington Career Institute, against 70% at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts-Austin. 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.