Head-to-head comparison
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home vs Paul Mitchell the School-Little Rock: 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 North Little Rock, AR
Paul Mitchell the School-Little Rock
- Net price / year
- $18,356
- Earnings, 10 years
- $24,765
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arkansas State University-Mountain Home comes closer — median earnings $34,238 against a $35,388 total, vs $24,765 at Paul Mitchell the School-Little Rock. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home | Paul Mitchell the School-Little Rock |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,847 | $18,356 |
| Total net cost | $35,388 | $73,424 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,238 | $24,765 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $10,725 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$317,828 | -$545,324 |
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 Paul Mitchell the School-Little Rock?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, at $8,847 a year after aid versus $18,356 — a gap of $9,509 a year, or $38,036 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Little Rock graduates earn more?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home graduates report a median $34,238 ten years after entry, $9,473 more than the $24,765 at Paul Mitchell the School-Little Rock. 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 Paul Mitchell the School-Little Rock?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $10,725 at Paul Mitchell the School-Little Rock, a difference of $225. 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?
71% of students finish at Paul Mitchell the School-Little Rock, 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.