Head-to-head comparison
South Plains College vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Option A Levelland, TX
South Plains College
- Net price / year
- $6,791
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,276
- 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 South Plains College comes closer — median earnings $41,276 against a $13,582 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South Plains College | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,791 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $13,582 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,276 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$155,262 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, South Plains College or Arlington Career Institute?
South Plains College, at $6,791 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $17,842 a year, or $84,950 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 South Plains College or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
South Plains College graduates report a median $41,276 ten years after entry, $4,602 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, South Plains College or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $10,500 at South Plains College, a difference of $2,153. 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 29% at South Plains 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.