Head-to-head comparison
Lamar State College-Orange vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Option A Orange, TX
Lamar State College-Orange
- Net price / year
- $1,655
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,587
- 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 Lamar State College-Orange comes closer — median earnings $36,587 against a $6,620 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lamar State College-Orange | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $1,655 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $6,620 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,587 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $10,959 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$242,080 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lamar State College-Orange or Arlington Career Institute?
Lamar State College-Orange, at $1,655 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $22,978 a year, or $91,912 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 Lamar State College-Orange or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Arlington Career Institute graduates report a median $36,674 ten years after entry, $87 more than the $36,587 at Lamar State College-Orange. 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, Lamar State College-Orange or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $10,959 at Lamar State College-Orange, a difference of $2,612. 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 37% at Lamar State College-Orange. 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.