NorthWest Arkansas Community College vs Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: 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 $34,238 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | NorthWest Arkansas Community College | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,196 | $8,847 |
| Total net cost | $28,784 | $35,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,505 | $34,238 |
| Median debt | $9,506 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$125,884 | -$317,828 |
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-Mountain Home?
NorthWest Arkansas Community College, at $7,196 a year after aid versus $8,847 — a gap of $1,651 a year, or $6,604 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-Mountain Home graduates earn more?
NorthWest Arkansas Community College graduates report a median $43,505 ten years after entry, $9,267 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, NorthWest Arkansas Community College or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home?
NorthWest Arkansas Community College: its completers carry a median $9,506 in federal loans versus $10,500 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, a difference of $994. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
44% of students finish at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, 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.