Arlington Career Institute vs Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Dallas: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Dallas comes closer — median earnings $42,375 against a $108,556 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arlington Career Institute | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,633 | $27,139 |
| Total net cost | $98,532 | $108,556 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,674 | $42,375 |
| Median debt | $8,347 | $32,229 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$332,252 | -$228,256 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arlington Career Institute or Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Dallas?
Arlington Career Institute, at $24,633 a year after aid versus $27,139 — a gap of $2,506 a year, or $10,024 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 Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Dallas graduates earn more?
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Dallas graduates report a median $42,375 ten years after entry, $5,701 more than the $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. 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 Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Dallas?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $32,229 at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Dallas, a difference of $23,882. 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 53% at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Dallas. 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.