Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arlington Career Institute comes closer — median earnings $36,674 against a $98,532 total, vs $27,035 at Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,306 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $109,224 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $27,035 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $8,708 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$535,724 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute, at $24,633 a year after aid versus $27,306 — a gap of $2,673 a year, or $10,692 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Arlington Career Institute graduates report a median $36,674 ten years after entry, $9,639 more than the $27,035 at Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio. 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, Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $8,708 at Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio, a difference of $361. 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 53% at Southern Careers Institute-San Antonio. 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.