Texas College 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 $33,752 at Texas College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Texas College | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,958 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $43,832 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,752 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$335,992 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Texas College or Arlington Career Institute?
Texas College, at $10,958 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $13,675 a year, or $54,700 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Texas College or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Arlington Career Institute graduates report a median $36,674 ten years after entry, $2,922 more than the $33,752 at Texas 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, Texas College or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Texas College, a difference of $22,653. 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 14% at Texas 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.