Arlington Career Institute vs Vet Tech Institute of Houston: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Vet Tech Institute of Houston comes closer — median earnings $35,765 against a $29,428 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arlington Career Institute | Vet Tech Institute of Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,633 | $14,714 |
| Total net cost | $98,532 | $29,428 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,674 | $35,765 |
| Median debt | $8,347 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$332,252 | -$281,328 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arlington Career Institute or Vet Tech Institute of Houston?
Vet Tech Institute of Houston, at $14,714 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $9,919 a year, or $69,104 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 Vet Tech Institute of Houston graduates earn more?
Arlington Career Institute graduates report a median $36,674 ten years after entry, $909 more than the $35,765 at Vet Tech Institute of Houston. 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 Vet Tech Institute of Houston?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Vet Tech Institute of Houston, a difference of $3,653. 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 Vet Tech Institute of Houston. 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.