Arlington Career Institute vs Northwest Educational Center: 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 $25,442 at Northwest Educational Center. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arlington Career Institute | Northwest Educational Center |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,633 | $11,265 |
| Total net cost | $98,532 | $45,060 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,674 | $25,442 |
| Median debt | $8,347 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$332,252 | -$503,420 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arlington Career Institute or Northwest Educational Center?
Northwest Educational Center, at $11,265 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $13,368 a year, or $53,472 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 Northwest Educational Center graduates earn more?
Arlington Career Institute graduates report a median $36,674 ten years after entry, $11,232 more than the $25,442 at Northwest Educational Center. 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 graduates more of its students?
72% of students finish at Arlington Career Institute, against 70% at Northwest Educational Center. 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.