Head-to-head comparison
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home vs Philander Smith University: 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 Little Rock, AR
Philander Smith University
- Net price / year
- $14,224
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,427
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Philander Smith University comes closer — median earnings $38,427 against a $56,896 total, vs $34,238 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home | Philander Smith University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,847 | $14,224 |
| Total net cost | $35,388 | $56,896 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,238 | $38,427 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $24,736 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$317,828 | -$255,556 |
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 Philander Smith University?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, at $8,847 a year after aid versus $14,224 — a gap of $5,377 a year, or $21,508 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 Philander Smith University graduates earn more?
Philander Smith University graduates report a median $38,427 ten years after entry, $4,189 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 Philander Smith University?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $24,736 at Philander Smith University, a difference of $14,236. 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 30% at Philander Smith 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.