Head-to-head comparison
Laredo College vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Option A Laredo, TX
Laredo College
- Net price / year
- $5,798
- Earnings, 10 years
- $33,934
- 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 Laredo College comes closer — median earnings $33,934 against a $11,596 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Laredo College | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,798 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $11,596 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,934 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $2,959 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$300,116 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Laredo College or Arlington Career Institute?
Laredo College, at $5,798 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $18,835 a year, or $86,936 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 Laredo College or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Arlington Career Institute graduates report a median $36,674 ten years after entry, $2,740 more than the $33,934 at Laredo 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Laredo College or Arlington Career Institute?
Laredo College: its completers carry a median $2,959 in federal loans versus $8,347 at Arlington Career Institute, a difference of $5,388. 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 30% at Laredo 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.