Head-to-head comparison
Henderson State University vs Arkansas Northeastern College: which has better ROI?
Option A Arkadelphia, AR
Henderson State University
- Net price / year
- $23,405
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,459
- 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 Henderson State University comes closer — median earnings $43,459 against a $93,620 total, vs $33,169 at Arkansas Northeastern College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Henderson State University | Arkansas Northeastern College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,405 | $5,375 |
| Total net cost | $93,620 | $21,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,459 | $33,169 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$191,640 | -$325,320 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Henderson State University or Arkansas Northeastern College?
Arkansas Northeastern College, at $5,375 a year after aid versus $23,405 — a gap of $18,030 a year, or $72,120 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 Henderson State University or Arkansas Northeastern College graduates earn more?
Henderson State University graduates report a median $43,459 ten years after entry, $10,290 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?
49% of students finish at Arkansas Northeastern College, against 37% at Henderson State University. 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.