Arkansas Northeastern College vs Southern Arkansas University Tech: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southern Arkansas University Tech comes closer — median earnings $36,376 against a $36,072 total, vs $33,169 at Arkansas Northeastern College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas Northeastern College | Southern Arkansas University Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,375 | $9,018 |
| Total net cost | $21,500 | $36,072 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $33,169 | $36,376 |
| Median debt | — | $6,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$325,320 | -$275,752 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arkansas Northeastern College or Southern Arkansas University Tech?
Arkansas Northeastern College, at $5,375 a year after aid versus $9,018 — a gap of $3,643 a year, or $14,572 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Arkansas Northeastern College or Southern Arkansas University Tech graduates earn more?
Southern Arkansas University Tech graduates report a median $36,376 ten years after entry, $3,207 more than the $33,169 at Arkansas Northeastern College. 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.
Which graduates more of its students?
62% of students finish at Southern Arkansas University Tech, against 49% at Arkansas Northeastern 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.