Head-to-head comparison
Black River Technical College vs Arkansas State University Mid-South: which has better ROI?
Option A Pocahontas, AR
Black River Technical College
- Net price / year
- $5,095
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,818
- Payback
- No payback
Option B West Memphis, AR
Arkansas State University Mid-South
- Net price / year
- $5,427
- Earnings, 10 years
- $31,857
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Black River Technical College comes closer — median earnings $34,818 against a $20,380 total, vs $31,857 at Arkansas State University Mid-South. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Black River Technical College | Arkansas State University Mid-South |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,095 | $5,427 |
| Total net cost | $20,380 | $21,708 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,818 | $31,857 |
| Median debt | $9,500 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$291,220 | -$351,768 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Black River Technical College or Arkansas State University Mid-South?
Black River Technical College, at $5,095 a year after aid versus $5,427 — a gap of $332 a year, or $1,328 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 Black River Technical College or Arkansas State University Mid-South graduates earn more?
Black River Technical College graduates report a median $34,818 ten years after entry, $2,961 more than the $31,857 at Arkansas State University Mid-South. 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?
58% of students finish at Arkansas State University Mid-South, against 55% at Black River Technical 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.