Arkansas State University-Beebe 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 $36,603 at Arkansas State University-Beebe. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University-Beebe | Southern Arkansas University Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,698 | $9,018 |
| Total net cost | $46,792 | $36,072 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,603 | $36,376 |
| Median debt | $8,093 | $6,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$281,932 | -$275,752 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arkansas State University-Beebe or Southern Arkansas University Tech?
Southern Arkansas University Tech, at $9,018 a year after aid versus $11,698 — a gap of $2,680 a year, or $10,720 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 State University-Beebe or Southern Arkansas University Tech graduates earn more?
Arkansas State University-Beebe graduates report a median $36,603 ten years after entry, $227 more than the $36,376 at Southern Arkansas University Tech. 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 leaves students with less debt, Arkansas State University-Beebe or Southern Arkansas University Tech?
Southern Arkansas University Tech: its completers carry a median $6,000 in federal loans versus $8,093 at Arkansas State University-Beebe, a difference of $2,093. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
62% of students finish at Southern Arkansas University Tech, against 42% at Arkansas State University-Beebe. 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.