Southwest University at El Paso vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arlington Career Institute comes closer — median earnings $36,674 against a $98,532 total, vs $29,648 at Southwest University at El Paso. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southwest University at El Paso | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,906 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $33,812 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $29,648 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $20,000 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$408,052 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southwest University at El Paso or Arlington Career Institute?
Southwest University at El Paso, at $16,906 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $7,727 a year, or $64,720 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southwest University at El Paso or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Arlington Career Institute graduates report a median $36,674 ten years after entry, $7,026 more than the $29,648 at Southwest University at El Paso. 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, Southwest University at El Paso or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $20,000 at Southwest University at El Paso, a difference of $11,653. 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 59% at Southwest University at El Paso. 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.