Head-to-head comparison
University of Arkansas at Monticello vs Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: which has better ROI?
Option A Monticello, AR
University of Arkansas at Monticello
- Net price / year
- $14,287
- Earnings, 10 years
- $36,902
- 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 University of Arkansas at Monticello comes closer — median earnings $36,902 against a $57,148 total, vs $34,238 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Arkansas at Monticello | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,287 | $8,847 |
| Total net cost | $57,148 | $35,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $36,902 | $34,238 |
| Median debt | $19,971 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$286,308 | -$317,828 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Arkansas at Monticello or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, at $8,847 a year after aid versus $14,287 — a gap of $5,440 a year, or $21,760 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 University of Arkansas at Monticello or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home graduates earn more?
University of Arkansas at Monticello graduates report a median $36,902 ten years after entry, $2,664 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, University of Arkansas at Monticello or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $19,971 at University of Arkansas at Monticello, a difference of $9,471. 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?
49% of students finish at University of Arkansas at Monticello, against 44% at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. 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.