Arkansas State University-Mountain Home 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 $34,238 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home | Southern Arkansas University Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,847 | $9,018 |
| Total net cost | $35,388 | $36,072 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,238 | $36,376 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $6,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$317,828 | -$275,752 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Arkansas State University-Mountain Home or Southern Arkansas University Tech?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, at $8,847 a year after aid versus $9,018 — a gap of $171 a year, or $684 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 Southern Arkansas University Tech graduates earn more?
Southern Arkansas University Tech graduates report a median $36,376 ten years after entry, $2,138 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 leaves students with less debt, Arkansas State University-Mountain Home or Southern Arkansas University Tech?
Southern Arkansas University Tech: its completers carry a median $6,000 in federal loans versus $10,500 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, a difference of $4,500. 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 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.