Head-to-head comparison
Arkansas State University-Beebe vs Henderson State University: 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 Arkadelphia, AR
Henderson State University
- Net price / year
- $23,405
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,459
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Henderson State University comes closer — median earnings $43,459 against a $93,620 total, vs $36,603 at Arkansas State University-Beebe. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University-Beebe | Henderson State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,698 | $23,405 |
| Total net cost | $46,792 | $93,620 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,603 | $43,459 |
| Median debt | $8,093 | $19,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$281,932 | -$191,640 |
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 Henderson State University?
Arkansas State University-Beebe, at $11,698 a year after aid versus $23,405 — a gap of $11,707 a year, or $46,828 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 Henderson State University graduates earn more?
Henderson State University graduates report a median $43,459 ten years after entry, $6,856 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 Henderson State University?
Arkansas State University-Beebe: its completers carry a median $8,093 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Henderson State University, a difference of $11,407. 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?
42% of students finish at Arkansas State University-Beebe, against 37% at Henderson State University. 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.