Head-to-head comparison
Ozarka College vs Arkansas State University Mid-South: which has better ROI?
Option A Melbourne, AR
Ozarka College
- Net price / year
- $4,543
- Earnings, 10 years
- $29,314
- 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 Arkansas State University Mid-South comes closer — median earnings $31,857 against a $21,708 total, vs $29,314 at Ozarka College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ozarka College | Arkansas State University Mid-South |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,543 | $5,427 |
| Total net cost | $18,172 | $21,708 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $29,314 | $31,857 |
| Median debt | $9,818 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$399,092 | -$351,768 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Ozarka College or Arkansas State University Mid-South?
Ozarka College, at $4,543 a year after aid versus $5,427 — a gap of $884 a year, or $3,536 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 Ozarka College or Arkansas State University Mid-South graduates earn more?
Arkansas State University Mid-South graduates report a median $31,857 ten years after entry, $2,543 more than the $29,314 at Ozarka 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?
58% of students finish at Arkansas State University Mid-South, against 47% at Ozarka 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.