Head-to-head comparison
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home vs Arkansas State University Three Rivers: which has better ROI?
Option A Mountain Home, AR
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home
- Net price / year
- $8,847
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,238
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Malvern, AR
Arkansas State University Three Rivers
- Net price / year
- $8,070
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,374
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arkansas State University Three Rivers comes closer — median earnings $37,374 against a $32,280 total, vs $34,238 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home | Arkansas State University Three Rivers |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,847 | $8,070 |
| Total net cost | $35,388 | $32,280 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,238 | $37,374 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $10,250 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$317,828 | -$252,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Arkansas State University-Mountain Home or Arkansas State University Three Rivers?
Arkansas State University Three Rivers, at $8,070 a year after aid versus $8,847 — a gap of $777 a year, or $3,108 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-Mountain Home or Arkansas State University Three Rivers graduates earn more?
Arkansas State University Three Rivers graduates report a median $37,374 ten years after entry, $3,136 more than the $34,238 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. 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-Mountain Home or Arkansas State University Three Rivers?
Arkansas State University Three Rivers: its completers carry a median $10,250 in federal loans versus $10,500 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, a difference of $250. 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?
44% of students finish at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, against 26% at Arkansas State University Three Rivers. 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.