Head-to-head comparison
Arkansas State University vs Arkansas Northeastern College: which has better ROI?
Option A Jonesboro, AR
Arkansas State University
- Net price / year
- $12,366
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,617
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Blytheville, AR
Arkansas Northeastern College
- Net price / year
- $5,375
- Earnings, 10 years
- $33,169
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arkansas State University comes closer — median earnings $42,617 against a $49,464 total, vs $33,169 at Arkansas Northeastern College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University | Arkansas Northeastern College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,366 | $5,375 |
| Total net cost | $49,464 | $21,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,617 | $33,169 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$164,324 | -$325,320 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Arkansas State University or Arkansas Northeastern College?
Arkansas Northeastern College, at $5,375 a year after aid versus $12,366 — a gap of $6,991 a year, or $27,964 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 or Arkansas Northeastern College graduates earn more?
Arkansas State University graduates report a median $42,617 ten years after entry, $9,448 more than the $33,169 at Arkansas Northeastern College. 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 graduates more of its students?
55% of students finish at Arkansas State University, against 49% at Arkansas Northeastern College. 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.