Head-to-head comparison
University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community College vs Arkansas State University Mid-South: which has better ROI?
Option A Forrest City, AR
University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community College
- Net price / year
- $7,220
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,471
- 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 $28,471 at University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community College | Arkansas State University Mid-South |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,220 | $5,427 |
| Total net cost | $28,880 | $21,708 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $28,471 | $31,857 |
| Median debt | $6,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$426,660 | -$351,768 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community College or Arkansas State University Mid-South?
Arkansas State University Mid-South, at $5,427 a year after aid versus $7,220 — a gap of $1,793 a year, or $7,172 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 University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community 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, $3,386 more than the $28,471 at University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community 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 51% at University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community 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.