Del Mar College vs Arlington Baptist University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arlington Baptist University comes closer — median earnings $44,644 against a $99,624 total, vs $38,656 at Del Mar College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Del Mar College | Arlington Baptist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,399 | $24,906 |
| Total net cost | $6,798 | $99,624 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,656 | $44,644 |
| Median debt | $5,500 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$200,878 | -$173,944 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Del Mar College or Arlington Baptist University?
Del Mar College, at $3,399 a year after aid versus $24,906 — a gap of $21,507 a year, or $92,826 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 Baptist University graduates earn more?
Arlington Baptist University graduates report a median $44,644 ten years after entry, $5,988 more than the $38,656 at Del Mar 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, Del Mar College or Arlington Baptist University?
Del Mar College: its completers carry a median $5,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Arlington Baptist University, a difference of $21,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
19% of students finish at Arlington Baptist University, 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.