South Plains College vs Arlington Baptist University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but South Plains College comes closer — median earnings $41,276 against a $13,582 total, vs $44,644 at Arlington Baptist University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South Plains College | Arlington Baptist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,791 | $24,906 |
| Total net cost | $13,582 | $99,624 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,276 | $44,644 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$155,262 | -$173,944 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, South Plains College or Arlington Baptist University?
South Plains College, at $6,791 a year after aid versus $24,906 — a gap of $18,115 a year, or $86,042 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do South Plains College or Arlington Baptist University graduates earn more?
Arlington Baptist University graduates report a median $44,644 ten years after entry, $3,368 more than the $41,276 at South Plains 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, South Plains College or Arlington Baptist University?
South Plains College: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Arlington Baptist University, a difference of $16,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
29% of students finish at South Plains College, against 19% at Arlington Baptist University. 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.