University of Central Arkansas — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of Central Arkansas charges a net price of $16,511/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $66,044. Median earnings ten years after entry are $45,938, 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, University of Central Arkansas does not clear its cost — it ranks #9 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) | $16,511/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $66,044 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $45,938 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$2,422/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $20,346 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$114,484 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of Central Arkansas's own numbers. Net price $16,511 × 4 years = $66,044 total. Median earnings $45,938 fall $2,422 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 $66,044 bill in about 6.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do University of Central Arkansas students graduate with?
A median $20,346 in federal loans among completers, or 44% of the $45,938 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of Central Arkansas students graduate?
54% finish their degree — 46% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $66,044 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $122,304 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of Central Arkansas expensive compared with other Arkansas colleges?
Its $16,511 net price runs $4,145 above the $12,366 median across the 47 Arkansas colleges we profile, or $16,580 more across the full degree.