National Park College vs Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: 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 $32,444 at National Park College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | National Park College | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,720 | $8,847 |
| Total net cost | $50,880 | $35,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $32,444 | $34,238 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$369,200 | -$317,828 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, National Park College or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, at $8,847 a year after aid versus $12,720 — a gap of $3,873 a year, or $15,492 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do National Park College or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home graduates earn more?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home graduates report a median $34,238 ten years after entry, $1,794 more than the $32,444 at National Park 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 leaves students with less debt, National Park College or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home?
Completers at both borrow a median $10,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
44% of students finish at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, against 35% at National Park 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.