Head-to-head comparison
University of Central Arkansas vs Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: which has better ROI?
Option A Conway, AR
University of Central Arkansas
- Net price / year
- $16,511
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,938
- 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 Central Arkansas comes closer — median earnings $45,938 against a $66,044 total, vs $34,238 at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Central Arkansas | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,511 | $8,847 |
| Total net cost | $66,044 | $35,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,938 | $34,238 |
| Median debt | $20,346 | $10,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$114,484 | -$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 Central Arkansas or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home, at $8,847 a year after aid versus $16,511 — a gap of $7,664 a year, or $30,656 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 Central Arkansas or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home graduates earn more?
University of Central Arkansas graduates report a median $45,938 ten years after entry, $11,700 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 Central Arkansas or Arkansas State University-Mountain Home?
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home: its completers carry a median $10,500 in federal loans versus $20,346 at University of Central Arkansas, a difference of $9,846. 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?
54% of students finish at University of Central Arkansas, 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.