Arlington Career Institute vs Culinary Institute Inc: 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 $32,195 at Culinary Institute Inc. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arlington Career Institute | Culinary Institute Inc |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,633 | $30,428 |
| Total net cost | $98,532 | $60,856 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,674 | $32,195 |
| Median debt | $8,347 | $16,004 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$332,252 | -$384,156 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arlington Career Institute or Culinary Institute Inc?
Arlington Career Institute, at $24,633 a year after aid versus $30,428 — a gap of $5,795 a year, or $37,676 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 Culinary Institute Inc graduates earn more?
Arlington Career Institute graduates report a median $36,674 ten years after entry, $4,479 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, Arlington Career Institute or Culinary Institute Inc?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $16,004 at Culinary Institute Inc, a difference of $7,657. 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 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.