Head-to-head comparison
Arkansas State University-Beebe vs Black River Technical College: 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 Pocahontas, AR
Black River Technical College
- Net price / year
- $5,095
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,818
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arkansas State University-Beebe comes closer — median earnings $36,603 against a $46,792 total, vs $34,818 at Black River Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University-Beebe | Black River Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,698 | $5,095 |
| Total net cost | $46,792 | $20,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,603 | $34,818 |
| Median debt | $8,093 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$281,932 | -$291,220 |
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 Black River Technical College?
Black River Technical College, at $5,095 a year after aid versus $11,698 — a gap of $6,603 a year, or $26,412 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 Black River Technical College graduates earn more?
Arkansas State University-Beebe graduates report a median $36,603 ten years after entry, $1,785 more than the $34,818 at Black River Technical College. 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 Black River Technical College?
Arkansas State University-Beebe: its completers carry a median $8,093 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Black River Technical College, a difference of $1,407. 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?
55% of students finish at Black River Technical College, against 42% at Arkansas State University-Beebe. 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.