Head-to-head comparison
Arkansas State University-Beebe vs Arkansas State University Three Rivers: which has better ROI?
Option A Beebe, AR
Arkansas State University-Beebe
- Net price / year
- $11,698
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,603
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Malvern, AR
Arkansas State University Three Rivers
- Net price / year
- $8,070
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,374
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arkansas State University Three Rivers comes closer — median earnings $37,374 against a $32,280 total, vs $36,603 at Arkansas State University-Beebe. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University-Beebe | Arkansas State University Three Rivers |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,698 | $8,070 |
| Total net cost | $46,792 | $32,280 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,603 | $37,374 |
| Median debt | $8,093 | $10,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$281,932 | -$252,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Arkansas State University-Beebe or Arkansas State University Three Rivers?
Arkansas State University Three Rivers, at $8,070 a year after aid versus $11,698 — a gap of $3,628 a year, or $14,512 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Arkansas State University-Beebe or Arkansas State University Three Rivers graduates earn more?
Arkansas State University Three Rivers graduates report a median $37,374 ten years after entry, $771 more than the $36,603 at Arkansas State University-Beebe. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Arkansas State University-Beebe or Arkansas State University Three Rivers?
Arkansas State University-Beebe: its completers carry a median $8,093 in federal loans versus $10,250 at Arkansas State University Three Rivers, a difference of $2,157. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Arkansas State University-Beebe, against 26% at Arkansas State University Three Rivers. 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.