Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen 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 $27,035 at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen | Arlington Baptist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,724 | $24,906 |
| Total net cost | $94,896 | $99,624 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $27,035 | $44,644 |
| Median debt | $8,708 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$521,396 | -$173,944 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen or Arlington Baptist University?
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen, at $23,724 a year after aid versus $24,906 — a gap of $1,182 a year, or $4,728 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen or Arlington Baptist University graduates earn more?
Arlington Baptist University graduates report a median $44,644 ten years after entry, $17,609 more than the $27,035 at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen. 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, Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen or Arlington Baptist University?
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen: its completers carry a median $8,708 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Arlington Baptist University, a difference of $18,292. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
60% of students finish at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen, 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.