Head-to-head comparison
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home vs University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain: 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 Mena, AR
University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain
- Net price / year
- $4,842
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,037
- 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 $30,037 at University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home | University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,847 | $4,842 |
| Total net cost | $35,388 | $19,368 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,238 | $30,037 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $6,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$317,828 | -$385,828 |
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 University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain?
University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain, at $4,842 a year after aid versus $8,847 — a gap of $4,005 a year, or $16,020 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 University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain graduates earn more?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home graduates report a median $34,238 ten years after entry, $4,201 more than the $30,037 at University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain. 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 University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain?
University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain: its completers carry a median $6,500 in federal loans versus $10,500 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, a difference of $4,000. 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 University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain, 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.