Northeast Texas Community College vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Northeast Texas Community College comes closer — median earnings $37,870 against a $26,824 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northeast Texas Community College | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,706 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $26,824 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,870 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $10,946 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$236,624 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Northeast Texas Community College or Arlington Career Institute?
Northeast Texas Community College, at $6,706 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $17,927 a year, or $71,708 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Northeast Texas Community College or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Northeast Texas Community College graduates report a median $37,870 ten years after entry, $1,196 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, Northeast Texas Community College or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $10,946 at Northeast Texas Community College, a difference of $2,599. 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 56% at Northeast Texas Community 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.