Dallas College vs Arlington Baptist University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Dallas College comes closer — median earnings $41,714 against a $6,428 total, vs $44,644 at Arlington Baptist University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Dallas College | Arlington Baptist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,214 | $24,906 |
| Total net cost | $6,428 | $99,624 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,714 | $44,644 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$139,348 | -$173,944 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Dallas College or Arlington Baptist University?
Dallas College, at $3,214 a year after aid versus $24,906 — a gap of $21,692 a year, or $93,196 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Dallas College or Arlington Baptist University graduates earn more?
Arlington Baptist University graduates report a median $44,644 ten years after entry, $2,930 more than the $41,714 at Dallas 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 leaves students with less debt, Dallas College or Arlington Baptist University?
Dallas College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Arlington Baptist University, a difference of $17,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
32% of students finish at Dallas College, against 19% at Arlington Baptist University. 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.