Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs Arkansas State University Mid-South: which has better ROI?
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 $31,857 at Arkansas State University Mid-South. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Arkansas State University Mid-South |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,027 | $5,427 |
| Total net cost | $56,108 | $21,708 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,386 | $31,857 |
| Median debt | $18,750 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$175,588 | -$351,768 |
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 State University Mid-South?
Arkansas State University Mid-South, at $5,427 a year after aid versus $14,027 — a gap of $8,600 a year, or $34,400 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 State University Mid-South graduates earn more?
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates report a median $42,386 ten years after entry, $10,529 more than the $31,857 at Arkansas State University Mid-South. 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 49% at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus. 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.