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

Head-to-head comparison

National Park College vs Arkansas State University Mid-South: which has better ROI?

Public, Hot Springs AR · vs · Public, West Memphis AR

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

Option A Hot Springs, AR

National Park College

Net price / year
$12,720
Earnings, 10 years
$32,444
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
The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Arkansas State University Mid-South comes closer — median earnings $31,857 against a $21,708 total, vs $32,444 at National Park College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureNational Park CollegeArkansas State University Mid-South
Net price / yr$12,720$5,427
Total net cost$50,880$21,708
Median earnings, 10 yrs$32,444$31,857
Median debt$10,500—
Payback——
20-year net return-$369,200-$351,768

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

The short answer

Which is cheaper, National Park College or Arkansas State University Mid-South?

Arkansas State University Mid-South, at $5,427 a year after aid versus $12,720 — a gap of $7,293 a year, or $29,172 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 National Park College or Arkansas State University Mid-South graduates earn more?

National Park College graduates report a median $32,444 ten years after entry, $587 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 35% at National Park 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.

National Park College vs Arkansas State University Mid-South: frequently asked questions

Is National Park College or Arkansas State University Mid-South a better value?
Arkansas State University Mid-South 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, National Park College or Arkansas State University Mid-South?
Arkansas State University Mid-South: $5,427/yr net price after aid versus $12,720/yr at National Park College — a difference of $7,293 a year, or about $29,172 over four years.
Do National Park College or Arkansas State University Mid-South graduates earn more?
National Park College graduates earn a median $32,444 ten years after entry, versus $31,857 at Arkansas State University Mid-South — a $587 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.