Lamar State College-Orange vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lamar State College-Orange comes closer — median earnings $36,587 against a $6,620 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lamar State College-Orange | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $1,655 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $6,620 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,587 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $10,959 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$242,080 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lamar State College-Orange or Arlington Career Institute?
Lamar State College-Orange, at $1,655 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $22,978 a year, or $91,912 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 State College-Orange or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Arlington Career Institute graduates report a median $36,674 ten years after entry, $87 more than the $36,587 at Lamar State College-Orange. 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 State College-Orange or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $10,959 at Lamar State College-Orange, a difference of $2,612. 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 37% at Lamar State College-Orange. 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.