Head-to-head comparison
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home vs Black River Technical College: 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 Pocahontas, AR
Black River Technical College
- Net price / year
- $5,095
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,818
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Black River Technical College comes closer — median earnings $34,818 against a $20,380 total, vs $34,238 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home | Black River Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,847 | $5,095 |
| Total net cost | $35,388 | $20,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,238 | $34,818 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$317,828 | -$291,220 |
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 Black River Technical College?
Black River Technical College, at $5,095 a year after aid versus $8,847 — a gap of $3,752 a year, or $15,008 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 Black River Technical College graduates earn more?
Black River Technical College graduates report a median $34,818 ten years after entry, $580 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 Black River Technical College?
Black River Technical College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $10,500 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, a difference of $1,000. 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?
55% of students finish at Black River Technical College, against 44% at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. 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.