Degree Dividend
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Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs Arkansas Baptist College: which has better ROI?

Public, Magnolia AR · vs · Private nonprofit, Little Rock AR

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southern Arkansas University Main Campus comes closer — median earnings $42,386 against a $56,108 total, vs $28,418 at Arkansas Baptist College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureSouthern Arkansas University Main CampusArkansas Baptist College
Net price / yr$14,027$10,627
Total net cost$56,108$42,508
Median earnings, 10 yrs$42,386$28,418
Median debt$18,750$25,375
Payback
20-year net return-$175,588-$441,348

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

Which is cheaper, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Arkansas Baptist College?

Arkansas Baptist College, at $10,627 a year after aid versus $14,027 — a gap of $3,400 a year, or $13,600 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Arkansas Baptist College graduates earn more?

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates report a median $42,386 ten years after entry, $13,968 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, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Arkansas Baptist College?

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus: its completers carry a median $18,750 in federal loans versus $25,375 at Arkansas Baptist College, a difference of $6,625. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

49% of students finish at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus, 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.

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs Arkansas Baptist College: frequently asked questions

Is Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Arkansas Baptist College a better value?
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus 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, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Arkansas Baptist College?
Arkansas Baptist College: $10,627/yr net price after aid versus $14,027/yr at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus — a difference of $3,400 a year, or about $13,600 over four years.
Do Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Arkansas Baptist College graduates earn more?
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates earn a median $42,386 ten years after entry, versus $28,418 at Arkansas Baptist College — a $13,968 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.