University of Arkansas-Fort Smith vs Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Arkansas-Fort Smith comes closer — median earnings $41,102 against a $21,148 total, vs $34,238 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,574 | $8,847 |
| Total net cost | $21,148 | $35,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,102 | $34,238 |
| Median debt | $18,250 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$166,308 | -$317,828 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, at $8,847 a year after aid versus $10,574 — a gap of $1,727 a year, or $14,240 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-Fort Smith or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home graduates earn more?
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith graduates report a median $41,102 ten years after entry, $6,864 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-Fort Smith or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $18,250 at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, a difference of $7,750. 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 38% at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. 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.