Arlington Career Institute vs Wade College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Wade College comes closer — median earnings $36,657 against a $41,556 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arlington Career Institute | Wade College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,633 | $20,778 |
| Total net cost | $98,532 | $41,556 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,674 | $36,657 |
| Median debt | $8,347 | $22,938 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$332,252 | -$275,616 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arlington Career Institute or Wade College?
Wade College, at $20,778 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $3,855 a year, or $56,976 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 Wade College graduates earn more?
Arlington Career Institute graduates report a median $36,674 ten years after entry, $17 more than the $36,657 at Wade College. 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 Wade College?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $22,938 at Wade College, a difference of $14,591. 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 54% at Wade College. 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.