Degree Dividend
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South Arkansas College vs Arkansas Baptist College: which has better ROI?

Public, El Dorado AR · vs · Private nonprofit, Little Rock AR

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but South Arkansas College comes closer — median earnings $34,521 against a $29,944 total, vs $28,418 at Arkansas Baptist College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureSouth Arkansas CollegeArkansas Baptist College
Net price / yr$7,486$10,627
Total net cost$29,944$42,508
Median earnings, 10 yrs$34,521$28,418
Median debt$11,153$25,375
Payback
20-year net return-$306,724-$441,348

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, South Arkansas College or Arkansas Baptist College?

South Arkansas College, at $7,486 a year after aid versus $10,627 — a gap of $3,141 a year, or $12,564 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do South Arkansas College or Arkansas Baptist College graduates earn more?

South Arkansas College graduates report a median $34,521 ten years after entry, $6,103 more than the $28,418 at Arkansas Baptist 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, South Arkansas College or Arkansas Baptist College?

South Arkansas College: its completers carry a median $11,153 in federal loans versus $25,375 at Arkansas Baptist College, a difference of $14,222. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

30% of students finish at South Arkansas College, against 7% at Arkansas Baptist 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.

South Arkansas College vs Arkansas Baptist College: frequently asked questions

Is South Arkansas College or Arkansas Baptist College a better value?
South Arkansas College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, South Arkansas College or Arkansas Baptist College?
South Arkansas College: $7,486/yr net price after aid versus $10,627/yr at Arkansas Baptist College — a difference of $3,141 a year, or about $12,564 over four years.
Do South Arkansas College or Arkansas Baptist College graduates earn more?
South Arkansas College graduates earn a median $34,521 ten years after entry, versus $28,418 at Arkansas Baptist College — a $6,103 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.