Coastal Bend College vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Coastal Bend College comes closer — median earnings $35,086 against a $8,474 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Coastal Bend College | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,237 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $8,474 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,086 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | — | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$273,954 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Coastal Bend College or Arlington Career Institute?
Coastal Bend College, at $4,237 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $20,396 a year, or $90,058 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Coastal Bend College or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Arlington Career Institute graduates report a median $36,674 ten years after entry, $1,588 more than the $35,086 at Coastal Bend 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 graduates more of its students?
72% of students finish at Arlington Career Institute, against 25% at Coastal Bend 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.