Head-to-head comparison
Arkansas State University Mid-South vs Northwest Technical Institute: which has better ROI?
Option A West Memphis, AR
Arkansas State University Mid-South
- Net price / year
- $5,427
- Earnings, 10 years
- $31,857
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Springdale, AR
Northwest Technical Institute
- Net price / year
- $15,992
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,513
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Northwest Technical Institute comes closer — median earnings $41,513 against a $63,968 total, vs $31,857 at Arkansas State University Mid-South. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University Mid-South | Northwest Technical Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,427 | $15,992 |
| Total net cost | $21,708 | $63,968 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $31,857 | $41,513 |
| Median debt | — | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$351,768 | -$200,908 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Arkansas State University Mid-South or Northwest Technical Institute?
Arkansas State University Mid-South, at $5,427 a year after aid versus $15,992 — a gap of $10,565 a year, or $42,260 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 Mid-South or Northwest Technical Institute graduates earn more?
Northwest Technical Institute graduates report a median $41,513 ten years after entry, $9,656 more than the $31,857 at Arkansas State University Mid-South. 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 graduates more of its students?
74% of students finish at Northwest Technical Institute, against 58% at Arkansas State University Mid-South. 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.