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Arlington Career Institute vs Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Arlington TX · vs · Private for-profit, San Antonio TX

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio comes closer — median earnings $38,673 against a $87,528 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureArlington Career InstitutePima Medical Institute-San Antonio
Net price / yr$24,633$21,882
Total net cost$98,532$87,528
Median earnings, 10 yrs$36,674$38,673
Median debt$8,347$9,500
Payback
20-year net return-$332,252-$281,268

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Arlington Career Institute or Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio?

Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio, at $21,882 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $2,751 a year, or $11,004 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 Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio graduates earn more?

Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio graduates report a median $38,673 ten years after entry, $1,999 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 Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio?

Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio, 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 57% at Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio. 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.

Arlington Career Institute vs Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio: frequently asked questions

Is Arlington Career Institute or Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio a better value?
Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Arlington Career Institute or Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio?
Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio: $21,882/yr net price after aid versus $24,633/yr at Arlington Career Institute — a difference of $2,751 a year, or about $11,004 over four years.
Do Arlington Career Institute or Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio graduates earn more?
Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio graduates earn a median $38,673 ten years after entry, versus $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute — a $1,999 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.