Head-to-head comparison
Henderson State University vs Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: 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 Mountain Home, AR
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home
- Net price / year
- $8,847
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,238
- 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 $34,238 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Henderson State University | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,405 | $8,847 |
| Total net cost | $93,620 | $35,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,459 | $34,238 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$191,640 | -$317,828 |
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 State University-Mountain Home?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, at $8,847 a year after aid versus $23,405 — a gap of $14,558 a year, or $58,232 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 State University-Mountain Home graduates earn more?
Henderson State University graduates report a median $43,459 ten years after entry, $9,221 more than the $34,238 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. 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, Henderson State University or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $19,500 at Henderson State University, a difference of $9,000. 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?
44% of students finish at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, 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.