Henderson State University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Henderson State University charges a net price of $23,405/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $93,620. Median earnings ten years after entry are $43,459, 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, Henderson State University does not clear its cost — it ranks #19 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) | $23,405/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $93,620 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $43,459 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$4,901/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $19,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$191,640 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Henderson State University's own numbers. Net price $23,405 × 4 years = $93,620 total. Median earnings $43,459 fall $4,901 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 $93,620 bill in about 9.4 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Henderson State University students graduate with?
A median $19,500 in federal loans among completers, or 45% of the $43,459 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Henderson State University students graduate?
37% finish their degree — 63% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $93,620 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $253,027 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Henderson State University expensive compared with other Arkansas colleges?
Its $23,405 net price runs $11,039 above the $12,366 median across the 47 Arkansas colleges we profile, or $44,156 more across the full degree.