Paris Junior College vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Paris Junior College comes closer — median earnings $36,515 against a $15,380 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Paris Junior College | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,690 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $15,380 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,515 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $5,342 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$252,280 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Paris Junior College or Arlington Career Institute?
Paris Junior College, at $7,690 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $16,943 a year, or $83,152 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Paris Junior College or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Arlington Career Institute graduates report a median $36,674 ten years after entry, $159 more than the $36,515 at Paris Junior College. 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, Paris Junior College or Arlington Career Institute?
Paris Junior College: its completers carry a median $5,342 in federal loans versus $8,347 at Arlington Career Institute, a difference of $3,005. 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 38% at Paris Junior 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.