Head-to-head comparison
Arkansas State University vs Lyon 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 Batesville, AR
Lyon College
- Net price / year
- $19,616
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,232
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lyon College comes closer — median earnings $44,232 against a $78,464 total, vs $42,617 at Arkansas State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Arkansas State University | Lyon College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,366 | $19,616 |
| Total net cost | $49,464 | $78,464 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,617 | $44,232 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $21,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$164,324 | -$161,024 |
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 Lyon College?
Arkansas State University, at $12,366 a year after aid versus $19,616 — a gap of $7,250 a year, or $29,000 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 Lyon College graduates earn more?
Lyon College graduates report a median $44,232 ten years after entry, $1,615 more than the $42,617 at Arkansas State University. 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 or Lyon College?
Arkansas State University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $21,500 at Lyon College, a difference of $1,000. 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 Arkansas State University, against 47% at Lyon 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.