Head-to-head comparison
Arkansas State University-Beebe vs Williams Baptist 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 Walnut Ridge, AR
Williams Baptist University
- Net price / year
- $15,745
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,484
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Williams Baptist University comes closer — median earnings $38,484 against a $62,980 total, vs $36,603 at Arkansas State University-Beebe. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University-Beebe | Williams Baptist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,698 | $15,745 |
| Total net cost | $46,792 | $62,980 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,603 | $38,484 |
| Median debt | $8,093 | $21,820 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$281,932 | -$260,500 |
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 Williams Baptist University?
Arkansas State University-Beebe, at $11,698 a year after aid versus $15,745 — a gap of $4,047 a year, or $16,188 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 Williams Baptist University graduates earn more?
Williams Baptist University graduates report a median $38,484 ten years after entry, $1,881 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 Williams Baptist University?
Arkansas State University-Beebe: its completers carry a median $8,093 in federal loans versus $21,820 at Williams Baptist University, a difference of $13,727. 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 Williams Baptist 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.