Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: 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 $34,238 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,027 | $8,847 |
| Total net cost | $56,108 | $35,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,386 | $34,238 |
| Median debt | $18,750 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$175,588 | -$317,828 |
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-Mountain Home?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, at $8,847 a year after aid versus $14,027 — a gap of $5,180 a year, or $20,720 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-Mountain Home graduates earn more?
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates report a median $42,386 ten years after entry, $8,148 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, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $18,750 at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus, a difference of $8,250. 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 44% at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. 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.