Arlington Career Institute vs Dallas Institute of Funeral Service: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Dallas Institute of Funeral Service comes closer — median earnings $45,866 against a $45,650 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arlington Career Institute | Dallas Institute of Funeral Service |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,633 | $22,825 |
| Total net cost | $98,532 | $45,650 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,674 | $45,866 |
| Median debt | $8,347 | $12,820 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$332,252 | -$95,530 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arlington Career Institute or Dallas Institute of Funeral Service?
Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, at $22,825 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $1,808 a year, or $52,882 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 Dallas Institute of Funeral Service graduates earn more?
Dallas Institute of Funeral Service graduates report a median $45,866 ten years after entry, $9,192 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 Dallas Institute of Funeral Service?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $12,820 at Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, a difference of $4,473. 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 33% at Dallas 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.