Arlington Career Institute vs Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arlington Career Institute comes closer — median earnings $36,674 against a $98,532 total, vs $32,162 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arlington Career Institute | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,633 | $20,491 |
| Total net cost | $98,532 | $81,964 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,674 | $32,162 |
| Median debt | $8,347 | $7,916 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$332,252 | -$405,924 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arlington Career Institute or Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio, at $20,491 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $4,142 a year, or $16,568 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 Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio graduates earn more?
Arlington Career Institute graduates report a median $36,674 ten years after entry, $4,512 more than the $32,162 at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio. 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 Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio?
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio: its completers carry a median $7,916 in federal loans versus $8,347 at Arlington Career Institute, a difference of $431. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
81% of students finish at Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-San Antonio, against 72% at Arlington Career Institute. 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.