Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas vs Arkansas State University Mid-South: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arkansas State University Mid-South comes closer — median earnings $31,857 against a $21,708 total, vs $29,552 at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas | Arkansas State University Mid-South |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,848 | $5,427 |
| Total net cost | $19,392 | $21,708 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $29,552 | $31,857 |
| Median debt | — | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$395,552 | -$351,768 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas or Arkansas State University Mid-South?
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas, at $4,848 a year after aid versus $5,427 — a gap of $579 a year, or $2,316 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas or Arkansas State University Mid-South graduates earn more?
Arkansas State University Mid-South graduates report a median $31,857 ten years after entry, $2,305 more than the $29,552 at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas. 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?
58% of students finish at Arkansas State University Mid-South, against 55% at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas. 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.