NorthWest Arkansas Community College vs Arkansas State University-Beebe: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but NorthWest Arkansas Community College comes closer — median earnings $43,505 against a $28,784 total, vs $36,603 at Arkansas State University-Beebe. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | NorthWest Arkansas Community College | Arkansas State University-Beebe |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,196 | $11,698 |
| Total net cost | $28,784 | $46,792 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,505 | $36,603 |
| Median debt | $9,506 | $8,093 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$125,884 | -$281,932 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, NorthWest Arkansas Community College or Arkansas State University-Beebe?
NorthWest Arkansas Community College, at $7,196 a year after aid versus $11,698 — a gap of $4,502 a year, or $18,008 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do NorthWest Arkansas Community College or Arkansas State University-Beebe graduates earn more?
NorthWest Arkansas Community College graduates report a median $43,505 ten years after entry, $6,902 more than the $36,603 at Arkansas State University-Beebe. 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, NorthWest Arkansas Community College or Arkansas State University-Beebe?
Arkansas State University-Beebe: its completers carry a median $8,093 in federal loans versus $9,506 at NorthWest Arkansas Community College, a difference of $1,413. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Arkansas State University-Beebe, against 31% at NorthWest Arkansas Community 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.