Head-to-head comparison
University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana vs Arkansas State University Mid-South: which has better ROI?
Option A Hope, AR
University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana
- Net price / year
- $9,270
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,162
- 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 University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana comes closer — median earnings $34,162 against a $37,080 total, vs $31,857 at Arkansas State University Mid-South. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana | Arkansas State University Mid-South |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,270 | $5,427 |
| Total net cost | $37,080 | $21,708 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,162 | $31,857 |
| Median debt | — | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$321,040 | -$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 Hope-Texarkana or Arkansas State University Mid-South?
Arkansas State University Mid-South, at $5,427 a year after aid versus $9,270 — a gap of $3,843 a year, or $15,372 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 Hope-Texarkana or Arkansas State University Mid-South graduates earn more?
University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana graduates report a median $34,162 ten years after entry, $2,305 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 57% at University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana. 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.