Black River Technical College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Black River Technical College charges a net price of $5,095/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $20,380. Median earnings ten years after entry are $34,818, 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, Black River Technical College does not clear its cost — it ranks #27 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) | $5,095/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $20,380 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $34,818 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$13,542/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $9,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$291,220 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Black River Technical College's own numbers. Net price $5,095 × 4 years = $20,380 total. Median earnings $34,818 fall $13,542 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 $20,380 bill in about 2.0 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Black River Technical College students graduate with?
A median $9,500 in federal loans among completers, or 27% of the $34,818 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Black River Technical College students graduate?
55% finish their degree — 45% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $20,380 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $37,055 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Black River Technical College expensive compared with other Arkansas colleges?
Its $5,095 net price runs $7,271 below the $12,366 median across the 47 Arkansas colleges we profile, and $29,084 less across the full degree.