Arkansas State University-Mountain Home vs Career Academy of Hair Design: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arkansas State University-Mountain Home comes closer — median earnings $34,238 against a $35,388 total, vs $21,567 at Career Academy of Hair Design. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home | Career Academy of Hair Design |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,847 | $12,728 |
| Total net cost | $35,388 | $50,912 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,238 | $21,567 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $6,365 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$317,828 | -$586,772 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arkansas State University-Mountain Home or Career Academy of Hair Design?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, at $8,847 a year after aid versus $12,728 — a gap of $3,881 a year, or $15,524 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-Mountain Home or Career Academy of Hair Design graduates earn more?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home graduates report a median $34,238 ten years after entry, $12,671 more than the $21,567 at Career Academy of Hair Design. 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-Mountain Home or Career Academy of Hair Design?
Career Academy of Hair Design: its completers carry a median $6,365 in federal loans versus $10,500 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, a difference of $4,135. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
73% of students finish at Career Academy of Hair Design, against 44% at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. 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.