Head-to-head comparison
Arlington Career Institute vs Paul Mitchell the School-San Antonio: which has better ROI?
Option A Arlington, TX
Arlington Career Institute
- Net price / year
- $24,633
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,674
- Payback
- No payback
Option B San Antonio, TX
Paul Mitchell the School-San Antonio
- Net price / year
- $30,294
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,693
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arlington Career Institute comes closer — median earnings $36,674 against a $98,532 total, vs $28,693 at Paul Mitchell the School-San Antonio. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arlington Career Institute | Paul Mitchell the School-San Antonio |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,633 | $30,294 |
| Total net cost | $98,532 | $121,176 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,674 | $28,693 |
| Median debt | $8,347 | $8,505 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$332,252 | -$514,516 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Arlington Career Institute or Paul Mitchell the School-San Antonio?
Arlington Career Institute, at $24,633 a year after aid versus $30,294 — a gap of $5,661 a year, or $22,644 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Arlington Career Institute or Paul Mitchell the School-San Antonio graduates earn more?
Arlington Career Institute graduates report a median $36,674 ten years after entry, $7,981 more than the $28,693 at Paul Mitchell the School-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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Arlington Career Institute or Paul Mitchell the School-San Antonio?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $8,505 at Paul Mitchell the School-San Antonio, a difference of $158. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
76% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-San Antonio, against 72% at Arlington Career Institute. 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.