Head-to-head comparison
Arkansas State University-Beebe vs Philander Smith 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 Little Rock, AR
Philander Smith University
- Net price / year
- $14,224
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,427
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Philander Smith University comes closer — median earnings $38,427 against a $56,896 total, vs $36,603 at Arkansas State University-Beebe. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University-Beebe | Philander Smith University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,698 | $14,224 |
| Total net cost | $46,792 | $56,896 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,603 | $38,427 |
| Median debt | $8,093 | $24,736 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$281,932 | -$255,556 |
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 Philander Smith University?
Arkansas State University-Beebe, at $11,698 a year after aid versus $14,224 — a gap of $2,526 a year, or $10,104 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 Philander Smith University graduates earn more?
Philander Smith University graduates report a median $38,427 ten years after entry, $1,824 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 Philander Smith University?
Arkansas State University-Beebe: its completers carry a median $8,093 in federal loans versus $24,736 at Philander Smith University, a difference of $16,643. 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 30% at Philander Smith 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.