Tulsa Welding School-Houston vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Tulsa Welding School-Houston comes closer — median earnings $41,067 against a $140,404 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tulsa Welding School-Houston | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $35,101 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $140,404 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,067 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$286,264 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Tulsa Welding School-Houston or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute, at $24,633 a year after aid versus $35,101 — a gap of $10,468 a year, or $41,872 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Tulsa Welding School-Houston or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Tulsa Welding School-Houston graduates report a median $41,067 ten years after entry, $4,393 more than the $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. 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, Tulsa Welding School-Houston or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Tulsa Welding School-Houston, a difference of $1,153. 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 70% at Tulsa Welding School-Houston. 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.