Arlington Career Institute vs Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service comes closer — median earnings $37,786 against a $88,094 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arlington Career Institute | Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,633 | $44,047 |
| Total net cost | $98,532 | $88,094 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,674 | $37,786 |
| Median debt | $8,347 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$332,252 | -$299,574 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arlington Career Institute or Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service?
Arlington Career Institute, at $24,633 a year after aid versus $44,047 — a gap of $19,414 a year, or $10,438 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 Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service graduates earn more?
Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service graduates report a median $37,786 ten years after entry, $1,112 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 Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, a difference of $1,153. 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 55% at Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service. 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.