Del Mar College vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Del Mar College comes closer — median earnings $38,656 against a $6,798 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Del Mar College | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,399 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $6,798 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,656 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $5,500 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$200,878 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Del Mar College or Arlington Career Institute?
Del Mar College, at $3,399 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $21,234 a year, or $91,734 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Del Mar College or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Del Mar College graduates report a median $38,656 ten years after entry, $1,982 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, Del Mar College or Arlington Career Institute?
Del Mar College: its completers carry a median $5,500 in federal loans versus $8,347 at Arlington Career Institute, a difference of $2,847. 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 11% at Del Mar 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.