Arkansas State University-Mountain Home vs Northwest Technical Institute: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Northwest Technical Institute comes closer — median earnings $41,513 against a $63,968 total, vs $34,238 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home | Northwest Technical Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,847 | $15,992 |
| Total net cost | $35,388 | $63,968 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,238 | $41,513 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$317,828 | -$200,908 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arkansas State University-Mountain Home or Northwest Technical Institute?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, at $8,847 a year after aid versus $15,992 — a gap of $7,145 a year, or $28,580 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 Northwest Technical Institute graduates earn more?
Northwest Technical Institute graduates report a median $41,513 ten years after entry, $7,275 more than the $34,238 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. 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?
74% of students finish at Northwest Technical Institute, 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.