Navarro College vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Navarro College comes closer — median earnings $38,716 against a $29,640 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Navarro College | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,820 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $29,640 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,716 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$222,520 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Navarro College or Arlington Career Institute?
Navarro College, at $14,820 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $9,813 a year, or $68,892 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Navarro College or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Navarro College graduates report a median $38,716 ten years after entry, $2,042 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, Navarro College or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $11,000 at Navarro College, a difference of $2,653. 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 23% at Navarro 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.