Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Arkansas State University #300 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $56,631, placing Arkansas State University in the 31.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Arkansas State University sits in the 53.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong graduate outcomes relative to comparable institutions. --- Arkansas State University's composite ranking captures a broad-access public university in Jonesboro that delivers graduate earnings above what similar students achieve at comparable institutions. Median 4-year earnings and earnings beyond expectations both place the university in favorable standing among nonprofit four-year institutions, anchored by the institution's dominant strength in health-related programs.
Azimuth ranks Arkansas State University #300 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Jonesboro, AR, Arkansas State University enrolls roughly 9,110 undergraduates. Freshman retention runs at 78.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 55.4%, figures that reflect a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored by what Arkansas State University delivers for its graduates. Graduates earn about $1,057 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Arkansas State University in the 53.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university's dominant concentration in Health shapes that outcome — health-oriented programs tend to produce graduates who enter stable, in-demand careers with earnings that hold up well relative to what similar students achieve elsewhere. Azimuth ranks Arkansas State University #826 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability provide additional context for the composite position. Arkansas State University admits about 82.3% of applicants, reflecting a broad-access admissions posture that keeps the door open to a wide range of students — 38.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 38.8% are first-generation college students. Arkansas State University sits in the 78.2 percentile for access and the 86.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility outcomes in the 81.1 percentile — a profile that reflects a regional public university serving a predominantly in-state population and converting that access into earnings outcomes that outpace expectations.
Arkansas State University's published cost of attendance is $25,082. Net price by income band reflects the university's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $10,098, middle-income families pay around $12,205, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,444. Azimuth ranks Arkansas State University #196 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Arkansas State University participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside state and institutional aid. The university's aid structure is designed to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay, with need-based scholarships available to qualifying undergraduates. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,631, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Arkansas State University is a strong fit for students in AR and the surrounding region who are drawn to health-related fields, applied sciences, and professional programs — particularly those seeking a public university experience with broad access and a clear pathway to stable careers. Graduates earn in the 31.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Arkansas State University sits in the 53.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $1,057 less than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students weighing long-term return on investment. The institution enrolls a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 38.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 38.8% are first-generation — and the aid structure and net price reflect a public university designed to serve cost-sensitive families in the region. Median student debt at graduation is $20,500, and low-income graduates sit in the 5.7 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Arkansas State University's program mix is concentrated in Health and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes; and students who plan to remain in South after graduation will benefit most from the institution's regional employer relationships and local labor-market alignment.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Arkansas State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Mechanical Engineering
19 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
200 graduates
Civil Engineering
12 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
20 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
53 graduates
Arkansas State University's program mix is anchored in health, education, and applied professional fields — a signature consistent with its regional public university identity in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Health programs form the largest share of degree output, with Business accounting for 15% of graduates, followed by Education at 9% and Social Sciences at 7%.
Across 45 programs serving roughly 1,723 students annually, 28 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold — a portfolio shaped by the institution's focus on workforce-ready credentials in fields with steady regional and national demand. The program anchoring the strongest aggregate return is Nursing, which combines meaningful cohort scale with competitive four-year earnings, making it a key economic driver within the institution's degree mix.
Among the most popular programs, General Studies program graduates 201 students with median earnings of $43,733 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #132 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Nursing and Psychology, General also enroll large cohorts of 200 and 142 graduates respectively, with four-year median earnings of $88,611 and $44,872, reflecting the institution's broad reach into health and professional fields.
The highest-earning programs at Arkansas State University are concentrated in clinical and applied health disciplines. Nursing leads with median earnings of $88,611 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #117 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Finance and Kinesiology follow closely, with graduates earning $68,408 and $55,833 respectively — fields where direct workforce entry is the norm and four-year earnings closely reflect labor-market outcomes. These programs align well with sectors showing sustained hiring demand, as explored in Azimuth's [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) analysis.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Arkansas State University's published cost of attendance is $25,082. Net price by income band reflects the university's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $10,098, middle-income families pay around $12,205, and higher-income families pay approximately $16,444.
Azimuth ranks Arkansas State University #196 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Arkansas State University participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside state and institutional aid. The university's aid structure is designed to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay, with need-based scholarships available to qualifying undergraduates.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $11,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,631, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Arkansas State University earn median earnings of $56,631 four years after enrollment, placing Arkansas State University in the 31.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,057 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Arkansas State University in the 53.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Arkansas State University #826 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Health shapes the institution's overall earnings profile, with health-oriented graduates entering fields that carry stable, in-demand salaries across AR's regional labor market.
The program lineup reflects that health-sciences orientation. Nursing anchors the return story by combining meaningful cohort scale with strong median earnings, making it the single largest contributor to institution-wide graduate earnings.
General Studies, with 201 graduates, posts median earnings of $43,733 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #132 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Azimuth ranks Nursing #117 among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 200 graduates earning median earnings of $88,611.
Psychology, General and Business Administration round out the strongest-earning programs, each posting competitive median earnings four years after enrollment and contributing to the institution's broad health-and-applied-sciences footprint. Business accounts for 15% of degrees, followed by Education at 9% and Social Sciences at 7%, a distribution that concentrates graduate outcomes in fields with relatively predictable hiring demand across the region.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indiana State University Similar quality tier (#10815 ranked) | IN | 81% | $48,387 | #10815 | Compare |
Eastern Washington University Similar quality tier (#10824 ranked) | WA | 91% | $57,897 | #10824 | Compare |
University Of South Alabama Similar quality tier (#10826 ranked) | AL | 71% | $49,379 | #10826 | Compare |
Valdosta State University Similar quality tier (#10827 ranked) | GA | 72% | $49,361 | #10827 | Compare |
Jacksonville State University Similar quality tier (#10809 ranked) | AL | 78% | $45,235 | #10809 | Compare |
