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Carrington College-Albuquerque vs Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development: which has better ROI?

Private for-profit, Albuquerque NM · vs · Public, Santa Fe NM

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Carrington College-Albuquerque comes closer — median earnings $36,718 against a $196,120 total, vs $24,505 at Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureCarrington College-AlbuquerqueInstitute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development
Net price / yr$49,030$12,570
Total net cost$196,120$50,280
Median earnings, 10 yrs$36,718$24,505
Median debt$9,500
Payback
20-year net return-$428,960-$527,380

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

Which is cheaper, Carrington College-Albuquerque or Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development?

Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development, at $12,570 a year after aid versus $49,030 — a gap of $36,460 a year, or $145,840 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Carrington College-Albuquerque or Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development graduates earn more?

Carrington College-Albuquerque graduates report a median $36,718 ten years after entry, $12,213 more than the $24,505 at Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development. 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?

65% of students finish at Carrington College-Albuquerque, against 15% at Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development. 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.

Carrington College-Albuquerque vs Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development: frequently asked questions

Is Carrington College-Albuquerque or Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development a better value?
Carrington College-Albuquerque 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, Carrington College-Albuquerque or Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development?
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development: $12,570/yr net price after aid versus $49,030/yr at Carrington College-Albuquerque — a difference of $36,460 a year, or about $145,840 over four years.
Do Carrington College-Albuquerque or Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development graduates earn more?
Carrington College-Albuquerque graduates earn a median $36,718 ten years after entry, versus $24,505 at Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development — a $12,213 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.