Head-to-head comparison
Trinity Valley Community College vs Arlington Baptist University: which has better ROI?
Option A Athens, TX
Trinity Valley Community College
- Net price / year
- $4,092
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,567
- 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 $38,567 at Trinity Valley Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Trinity Valley Community College | Arlington Baptist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,092 | $24,906 |
| Total net cost | $8,184 | $99,624 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,567 | $44,644 |
| Median debt | $10,426 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$204,044 | -$173,944 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Trinity Valley Community College or Arlington Baptist University?
Trinity Valley Community College, at $4,092 a year after aid versus $24,906 — a gap of $20,814 a year, or $91,440 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 Trinity Valley Community College or Arlington Baptist University graduates earn more?
Arlington Baptist University graduates report a median $44,644 ten years after entry, $6,077 more than the $38,567 at Trinity Valley Community College. 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, Trinity Valley Community College or Arlington Baptist University?
Trinity Valley Community College: its completers carry a median $10,426 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Arlington Baptist University, a difference of $16,574. 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?
27% of students finish at Trinity Valley Community College, 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.