Head-to-head comparison
Tyler Junior College vs Arlington Career Institute: which has better ROI?
Option A Tyler, TX
Tyler Junior College
- Net price / year
- $10,206
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,140
- 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 Tyler Junior College comes closer — median earnings $38,140 against a $20,412 total, vs $36,674 at Arlington Career Institute. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tyler Junior College | Arlington Career Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,206 | $24,633 |
| Total net cost | $20,412 | $98,532 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,140 | $36,674 |
| Median debt | $11,995 | $8,347 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$224,812 | -$332,252 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Tyler Junior College or Arlington Career Institute?
Tyler Junior College, at $10,206 a year after aid versus $24,633 — a gap of $14,427 a year, or $78,120 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 Tyler Junior College or Arlington Career Institute graduates earn more?
Tyler Junior College graduates report a median $38,140 ten years after entry, $1,466 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, Tyler Junior College or Arlington Career Institute?
Arlington Career Institute: its completers carry a median $8,347 in federal loans versus $11,995 at Tyler Junior College, a difference of $3,648. 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?
72% of students finish at Arlington Career Institute, against 27% at Tyler Junior 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.