North Central Texas College vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but North Central Texas College comes closer — median earnings $45,809 against a $13,174 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Central Texas College | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,587 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $13,174 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,809 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $11,250 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$64,194 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, North Central Texas College or Arlington Career Institute?
North Central Texas College, at $6,587 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $18,046 a year, or $85,358 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do North Central Texas College or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
North Central Texas College graduates report a median $45,809 ten years after entry, $9,135 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, North Central Texas College or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $11,250 at North Central Texas College, a difference of $2,903. 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 35% at North Central Texas 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.