Head-to-head comparison
Lamar State College-Port Arthur vs Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas: which has better ROI?
Option A Port Arthur, TX
Lamar State College-Port Arthur
- Net price / year
- $2,846
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,120
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Dallas, TX
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas
- Net price / year
- $38,488
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,657
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lamar State College-Port Arthur comes closer — median earnings $37,120 against a $11,384 total, vs $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lamar State College-Port Arthur | Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $2,846 | $38,488 |
| Total net cost | $11,384 | $153,952 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,120 | $34,657 |
| Median debt | $13,250 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$236,184 | -$428,012 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lamar State College-Port Arthur or Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas?
Lamar State College-Port Arthur, at $2,846 a year after aid versus $38,488 — a gap of $35,642 a year, or $142,568 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-Port Arthur or Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas graduates earn more?
Lamar State College-Port Arthur graduates report a median $37,120 ten years after entry, $2,463 more than the $34,657 at Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas. 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-Port Arthur or Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas?
Arizona College of Nursing-Dallas: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $13,250 at Lamar State College-Port Arthur, a difference of $3,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.