Head-to-head comparison
Tulsa Welding School-Dallas Campus vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Option A Irving, TX
Tulsa Welding School-Dallas Campus
- Net price / year
- $34,533
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,067
- 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 Tulsa Welding School-Dallas Campus comes closer — median earnings $41,067 against a $138,132 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tulsa Welding School-Dallas Campus | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,533 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $138,132 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,067 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$283,992 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Tulsa Welding School-Dallas Campus or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute, at $24,633 a year after aid versus $34,533 — a gap of $9,900 a year, or $39,600 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 Tulsa Welding School-Dallas Campus or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Tulsa Welding School-Dallas Campus graduates report a median $41,067 ten years after entry, $4,393 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, Tulsa Welding School-Dallas Campus or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Tulsa Welding School-Dallas Campus, a difference of $1,153. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.