Arkansas State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Arkansas State University charges a net price of $12,366/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $49,464. Median earnings ten years after entry are $42,617, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Arkansas State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #14 of 47 Arkansas colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $12,366/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $49,464 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $42,617 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$5,743/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $20,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$164,324 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Arkansas State University's own numbers. Net price $12,366 × 4 years = $49,464 total. Median earnings $42,617 fall $5,743 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $49,464 bill in about 4.9 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Arkansas State University students graduate with?
A median $20,500 in federal loans among completers, or 48% of the $42,617 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Arkansas State University students graduate?
55% finish their degree — 45% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $49,464 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $89,935 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Arkansas State University expensive compared with other Arkansas colleges?
Its $12,366 net price runs $0 above the $12,366 median across the 47 Arkansas colleges we profile, or $0 more across the full degree.