Head-to-head comparison
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College vs Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: which has better ROI?
Option A North Little Rock, AR
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College
- Net price / year
- $14,327
- Earnings, 10 years
- $34,722
- 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 Arkansas State University-Mountain Home comes closer — median earnings $34,238 against a $35,388 total, vs $34,722 at University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,327 | $8,847 |
| Total net cost | $57,308 | $35,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,722 | $34,238 |
| Median debt | $12,080 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$330,068 | -$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-Pulaski Technical College or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, at $8,847 a year after aid versus $14,327 — a gap of $5,480 a year, or $21,920 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-Pulaski Technical College or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home graduates earn more?
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College graduates report a median $34,722 ten years after entry, $484 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-Pulaski Technical College or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $12,080 at University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College, a difference of $1,580. 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?
44% of students finish at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, against 36% at University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical 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.