South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville vs Arlington Baptist University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arlington Baptist University comes closer — median earnings $44,644 against a $99,624 total, vs $31,102 at South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville | Arlington Baptist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,277 | $24,906 |
| Total net cost | $65,108 | $99,624 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $31,102 | $44,644 |
| Median debt | $15,917 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$410,268 | -$173,944 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville or Arlington Baptist University?
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville, at $16,277 a year after aid versus $24,906 — a gap of $8,629 a year, or $34,516 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 Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville or Arlington Baptist University graduates earn more?
Arlington Baptist University graduates report a median $44,644 ten years after entry, $13,542 more than the $31,102 at South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville. 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 Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville or Arlington Baptist University?
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville: its completers carry a median $15,917 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Arlington Baptist University, a difference of $11,083. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
78% of students finish at South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville, 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.