Head-to-head comparison
Jarvis Christian University vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Option A Hawkins, TX
Jarvis Christian University
- Net price / year
- $9,825
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,992
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Arlington, TX
Arlington Career Institute
- Net price / year
- $24,633
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,674
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arlington Career Institute comes closer — median earnings $36,674 against a $98,532 total, vs $32,992 at Jarvis Christian University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Jarvis Christian University | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,825 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $39,300 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,992 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$346,660 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Jarvis Christian University or Arlington Career Institute?
Jarvis Christian University, at $9,825 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $14,808 a year, or $59,232 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Jarvis Christian University or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Arlington Career Institute graduates report a median $36,674 ten years after entry, $3,682 more than the $32,992 at Jarvis Christian University. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Jarvis Christian University or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Jarvis Christian University, a difference of $18,653. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
72% of students finish at Arlington Career Institute, against 15% at Jarvis Christian 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.