Head-to-head comparison
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen vs Arlington Baptist University: which has better ROI?
Option A Harlingen, TX
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen
- Net price / year
- $23,724
- Earnings, 10 years
- $27,035
- 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 $27,035 at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen | Arlington Baptist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,724 | $24,906 |
| Total net cost | $94,896 | $99,624 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $27,035 | $44,644 |
| Median debt | $8,708 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$521,396 | -$173,944 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen or Arlington Baptist University?
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen, at $23,724 a year after aid versus $24,906 — a gap of $1,182 a year, or $4,728 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 Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen or Arlington Baptist University graduates earn more?
Arlington Baptist University graduates report a median $44,644 ten years after entry, $17,609 more than the $27,035 at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen. 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, Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen or Arlington Baptist University?
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen: its completers carry a median $8,708 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Arlington Baptist University, a difference of $18,292. 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?
60% of students finish at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen, 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.