Head-to-head comparison
Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Option A Grand Prairie, TX
Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie
- Net price / year
- $33,250
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,396
- 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 Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie comes closer — median earnings $46,396 against a $133,000 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $33,250 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $133,000 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,396 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $11,730 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$172,280 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute, at $24,633 a year after aid versus $33,250 — a gap of $8,617 a year, or $34,468 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 Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie graduates report a median $46,396 ten years after entry, $9,722 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $11,730 at Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie, a difference of $3,383. 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?
73% of students finish at Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie, against 72% at Arlington Career Institute. 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.