Skip to content
degreedividend.
ROI calculator
Independent college researchBuilt on federal dataNo rankings for sale

Head-to-head comparison

Arkansas State University vs Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas: which has better ROI?

Public, Jonesboro AR · vs · Public, De Queen AR

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

Option A Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas State University

Net price / year
$12,366
Earnings, 10 years
$42,617
Payback
No payback

Option B De Queen, AR

Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas

Net price / year
$4,385
Earnings, 10 years
$33,775
Payback
No payback
The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arkansas State University comes closer — median earnings $42,617 against a $49,464 total, vs $33,775 at Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureArkansas State UniversityCossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
Net price / yr$12,366$4,385
Total net cost$49,464$17,540
Median earnings, 10 yrs$42,617$33,775
Median debt$20,500—
Payback——
20-year net return-$164,324-$309,240

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 Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas?

Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas, at $4,385 a year after aid versus $12,366 — a gap of $7,981 a year, or $31,924 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 Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas graduates earn more?

Arkansas State University graduates report a median $42,617 ten years after entry, $8,842 more than the $33,775 at Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas. 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 54% at Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas. 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.

Arkansas State University vs Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas: frequently asked questions

Is Arkansas State University or Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas a better value?
Arkansas State University comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Arkansas State University or Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas?
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas: $4,385/yr net price after aid versus $12,366/yr at Arkansas State University — a difference of $7,981 a year, or about $31,924 over four years.
Do Arkansas State University or Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas graduates earn more?
Arkansas State University graduates earn a median $42,617 ten years after entry, versus $33,775 at Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas — a $8,842 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.