Arkansas State University
Jonesboro, Arkansas · Public · 82.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 33/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Arkansas State University in Jonesboro posts a 33 ROI score, sitting in the Below Benchmark tier despite being a midsize regional public with $8,090 in-state tuition. The institution-level math is constrained by modest earnings: $42,617 ten-year median against $30,900 at six years, generating a 15.4 percent earnings premium and a 24.9-year payback period. Net price is $12,366, with a four-year total of $49,464. Completion rate is 55.4 percent, solidly above the national regional-public average. Median debt is $20,500 with a 0.663 debt-to-earnings ratio. Repayment numbers are concerning, deteriorating from 71 percent at three years to 53 percent at five and seven years. The institutional score buries the strong program-level reality: A-State has clear winners in Nursing (B), Allied Health (B+), Communication Disorders (B+), Engineering (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical all post strong earnings), and Accounting (B). The institutional headline reflects the long tail of weak general-major outcomes; the right A-State pathway delivers genuinely competitive ROI.
How Arkansas State University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score33/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period24.9 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Arkansas State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,090/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $14,522/yr |
| Average net price | $12,366/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $49,464 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $42,617 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $30,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $217 |
| Estimated payback period | 24.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 55.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 9,110 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $8,090/year ($14,522/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $12,366/year, or roughly $49,464 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $10,098/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $16,444/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,500, which works out to about $217 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($30,900) and comes to 0.66, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,098 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,255 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,205 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,839 |
| $110,001+ | $16,444 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $10,098, with a small inversion: the $30,001 to $48,000 bracket pays less at $9,255. That is a mild small-sample anomaly worth flagging. Four-year cost for low-income families is approximately $40,000, against $42,617 median earnings ten years out. The math is workable in higher-ROI majors but tight overall, and the deteriorating repayment rate over time signals real strain for many graduates.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $9,255 (the $30,001 to $48,000 tier) to $12,205 (the $48,001 to $75,000 tier). Total four-year cost lands around $37,000 to $49,000. This is the price-sensitive sweet spot at A-State, and combined with strong program-level outcomes in nursing, engineering, and allied health, the math works for middle-income Arkansas families targeting the right majors.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $16,444, with the $75,001 to $110,000 bracket at $15,839. The progression is normal. Strong value for high-income students who target STEM or health-science programs.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Arkansas State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $88,611 | B |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $43,733 | D |
| Psychology | $44,872 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $47,023 | C |
| Teacher Education | $41,947 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $55,833 | D |
| Biology | $54,441 | D |
| Political Science and Government | $46,293 | D |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $44,780 | C |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $54,196 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is one of A-State's signature programs with 197 graduates per year, earning B grade. First-year median earnings of $73,423 grow to $88,611 by year four, against $26,355 in median debt and a 0.359 debt-to-earnings ratio. Strong regional demand across Arkansas and the Memphis metro absorbs graduates readily. This nursing program combines scale with solid outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the second-largest cohort at 166 graduates, earning C grade. First-year earnings of $36,007 grow to $47,023 by year four against $22,000 in median debt and a 0.611 debt-to-earnings ratio. Worth considering against the more specialized Finance and Accounting tracks at the same school.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts and Sciences is the largest cohort at 177 graduates with a D grade. First-year earnings of $33,881 grow to $43,733 by year four, with $27,000 in debt and a 0.797 debt-to-earnings ratio. The general nature of the degree leaves graduates without a clear professional credential, and the earnings tail reflects that. Students drawn to broad humanities work would do better declaring a specific major track with stronger labor-market outcomes.
Psychology
Psychology shows 175 graduates with a D grade. First-year earnings of $29,198 against $22,222 in median debt produce a 0.761 debt-to-earnings ratio. Year-four earnings of $44,872 show some progression. This is a graduate-school-dependent major; treated as a terminal bachelor's, the financial math is uncomfortable. Students pursuing this should commit to a graduate-school plan from the outset.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering is the largest engineering cohort at 25 graduates. First-year median earnings of $74,284 climb to $91,665 by year four. Median debt and ROI grade are not reported, but earnings at this level combined with A-State's modest cost structure make this a strong-return program. Strong pipeline into Arkansas manufacturing, defense contractors, and the broader Memphis-Little Rock industrial corridor.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 53.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 53.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Arkansas State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 82.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 480-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-570 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-24 |
| Enrollment | 9,110 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 38.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,579 |
A-State admits 82.3 percent of applicants. SAT mid-range is 480 to 620 math and 490 to 570 reading; ACT mid-range is 18 to 24. The 55.4 percent completion rate suggests the school's support infrastructure does meaningful work. Prepared students scoring above the 75th percentile should expect a smooth admission and a reasonable shot at completing.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas State University (this school) | 33 | $12,366 | $42,617 |
| University of Arkansas | 69 | $18,209 | $58,191 |
| East Tennessee State University | 35 | $15,983 | $44,859 |
| Morgan State University | 34 | $14,985 | $50,698 |
| Colorado Mesa University | 33 | $15,103 | $45,823 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | 31 | $17,248 | $45,265 |
Who Thrives Here
A-State fits an Arkansas student aiming at a STEM, health-sciences, or business credential at low in-state cost. Pell rate is 38.4 percent. Enrollment of 9,110 makes this a substantial midsize public with broad program coverage. The strong fits are Mechanical Engineering, Nursing, Allied Health, Accounting, and Communication Disorders, all of which combine solid earnings and manageable debt. Poor fits are students drifting into General Liberal Arts (177 graduates per year, D grade) or Psychology (175 graduates, D grade) without a clear post-graduation plan.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Arkansas State University scores 33/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $12,366 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $42,617 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 24.9 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 71.1% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $20,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $30,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Arkansas State University: Common Questions
Is Arkansas State University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Arkansas State University scores 33/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $12,366 a year after aid against $42,617 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 24.9 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Arkansas State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $12,366 a year, or roughly $49,464 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Arkansas State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $42,617 ten years after enrolling, roughly $817 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Arkansas State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 24.9 years for Arkansas State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Arkansas State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,500, against average earnings of $30,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Arkansas State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 55.4%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.