Lamar Institute of Technology vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lamar Institute of Technology comes closer — median earnings $38,991 against a $55,464 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lamar Institute of Technology | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,866 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $55,464 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,991 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $13,076 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$242,844 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lamar Institute of Technology or Arlington Career Institute?
Lamar Institute of Technology, at $13,866 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $10,767 a year, or $43,068 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Lamar Institute of Technology or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Lamar Institute of Technology graduates report a median $38,991 ten years after entry, $2,317 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, Lamar Institute of Technology or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $13,076 at Lamar Institute of Technology, a difference of $4,729. 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 31% at Lamar Institute of Technology. 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.