Head-to-head comparison
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith vs Arkansas Baptist College: which has better ROI?
Option A Fort Smith, AR
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
- Net price / year
- $10,574
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,102
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Little Rock, AR
Arkansas Baptist College
- Net price / year
- $10,627
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,418
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Arkansas-Fort Smith comes closer — median earnings $41,102 against a $21,148 total, vs $28,418 at Arkansas Baptist College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Arkansas Baptist College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,574 | $10,627 |
| Total net cost | $21,148 | $42,508 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,102 | $28,418 |
| Median debt | $18,250 | $25,375 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$166,308 | -$441,348 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith or Arkansas Baptist College?
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, at $10,574 a year after aid versus $10,627 — a gap of $53 a year, or $21,360 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-Fort Smith or Arkansas Baptist College graduates earn more?
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith graduates report a median $41,102 ten years after entry, $12,684 more than the $28,418 at Arkansas Baptist 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 leaves students with less debt, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith or Arkansas Baptist College?
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith: its completers carry a median $18,250 in federal loans versus $25,375 at Arkansas Baptist College, a difference of $7,125. 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?
38% of students finish at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, against 7% at Arkansas Baptist 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.