College of the Mainland vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of the Mainland comes closer — median earnings $39,639 against a $2,684 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of the Mainland | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $1,342 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $2,684 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,639 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $5,960 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$177,104 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of the Mainland or Arlington Career Institute?
College of the Mainland, at $1,342 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $23,291 a year, or $95,848 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do College of the Mainland or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
College of the Mainland graduates report a median $39,639 ten years after entry, $2,965 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, College of the Mainland or Arlington Career Institute?
College of the Mainland: its completers carry a median $5,960 in federal loans versus $8,347 at Arlington Career Institute, a difference of $2,387. 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 31% at College of the Mainland. 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.