Head-to-head comparison
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Weslaco vs Arlington Baptist University: which has better ROI?
Option A Weslaco, TX
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Weslaco
- Net price / year
- $17,925
- Earnings, 10 years
- $31,102
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Arlington, TX
Arlington Baptist University
- Net price / year
- $24,906
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,644
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arlington Baptist University comes closer — median earnings $44,644 against a $99,624 total, vs $31,102 at South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Weslaco. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Weslaco | Arlington Baptist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,925 | $24,906 |
| Total net cost | $71,700 | $99,624 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $31,102 | $44,644 |
| Median debt | $15,917 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$416,860 | -$173,944 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Weslaco or Arlington Baptist University?
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Weslaco, at $17,925 a year after aid versus $24,906 — a gap of $6,981 a year, or $27,924 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 Vocational Technical Institute-Weslaco or Arlington Baptist University graduates earn more?
Arlington Baptist University graduates report a median $44,644 ten years after entry, $13,542 more than the $31,102 at South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Weslaco. 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 Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Weslaco or Arlington Baptist University?
South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Weslaco: its completers carry a median $15,917 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Arlington Baptist University, a difference of $11,083. 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?
80% of students finish at South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Weslaco, against 19% at Arlington Baptist University. 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.