University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff vs Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff comes closer — median earnings $35,550 against a $50,612 total, vs $34,238 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,653 | $8,847 |
| Total net cost | $50,612 | $35,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $35,550 | $34,238 |
| Median debt | $24,202 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$306,812 | -$317,828 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, at $8,847 a year after aid versus $12,653 — a gap of $3,806 a year, or $15,224 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home graduates earn more?
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff graduates report a median $35,550 ten years after entry, $1,312 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, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $24,202 at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a difference of $13,702. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
44% of students finish at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, against 40% at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. 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.