Head-to-head comparison
South Texas College vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Option A McAllen, TX
South Texas College
- Net price / year
- $1,751
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,788
- 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 Texas College comes closer — median earnings $36,788 against a $3,502 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South Texas College | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $1,751 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $3,502 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,788 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | — | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$234,942 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, South Texas College or Arlington Career Institute?
South Texas College, at $1,751 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $22,882 a year, or $95,030 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 Texas College or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
South Texas College graduates report a median $36,788 ten years after entry, $114 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 graduates more of its students?
72% of students finish at Arlington Career Institute, against 27% at South Texas 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.