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Is Henderson State University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Henderson State, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Heavy lift
Henderson State lands in the heavy lift band for a typical family. The combination of $21,843 in yearly net price and $20,500 in median debt asks a lot relative to median earnings of $46,244. For context, Henderson State's net price runs about 29% above the typical 4-year, public school. This does not make the school wrong for every student, but it does mean the price deserves a closer test.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$16,929
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $3,775 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $15,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price is manageable, but it makes the aid offer matter a lot.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$21,843
Median earnings 10 years out
$46,244
Median debt at graduation
$20,500
Graduation rate
37%
At Henderson State, a typical graduate carries about $20,500 in student debt and earns roughly $46,244 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $233 per month, or 6% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
How earnings compare to a high school diploma
Graduates earn $17,742 more than the typical working high school graduate in Arkansas ($28,502) ten years after entering this school. A federal rule finalized in July 2026 ties each undergraduate program's federal loan eligibility to a comparison like this one, with the first calculations expected in 2027.
The national figure is $31,269. The Department of Education uses it instead of the state figure when fewer than half of a school's students come from its state.
68% of former students here earned more than the typical high school graduate ten years after entry, by College Scorecard's own measure.
Context, not a federal determination. The benchmarks are the Department of Education's published thresholds (2024 notice, based on 2022 Census data); thresholds under the 2026 rule have not been released yet. The official test looks at each program's graduates four years after completion; our figure is College Scorecard's median for the whole school, ten years after entry. How this works
Program earnings vs. the federal benchmark
Median earnings of working graduates four years after finishing each undergraduate program, next to the benchmark the federal earnings test uses: the typical working high school graduate aged 25–34 in Arkansas ($28,502).
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
Bachelor's degree · 54 working graduates counted
$40,226
$11,724 above the benchmark
Psychology, General
Bachelor's degree · 32 working graduates counted
$41,112
$12,610 above the benchmark
Social Work
Bachelor's degree · 22 working graduates counted
$42,453
$13,951 above the benchmark
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Bachelor's degree · 34 working graduates counted
$46,783
$18,281 above the benchmark
Business/Commerce, General
Bachelor's degree · 68 working graduates counted
$48,955
$20,453 above the benchmark
Accounting and Related Services
Bachelor's degree · 20 working graduates counted
$62,161
$33,659 above the benchmark
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Bachelor's degree · 35 working graduates counted
$68,733
$40,231 above the benchmark
62 other undergraduate programs here have no four-year earnings figure, usually because too few graduates were counted to publish one. That says nothing about how those programs do. See every program on College Scorecard
An estimate, not an official determination. Under a federal rule taking effect July 1, 2027, programs below this benchmark in official results may face limits on federal student loans; Pell Grants are not affected. The official test uses finer program categories, different graduating classes and the Department's own records; its first results are expected in 2027. Programs that train for tipped jobs, such as cosmetology and massage, won't be rated on 2025 earnings, and the Department decides which programs qualify. Earnings: College Scorecard field-of-study data (released Oct 15, 2026). Benchmark: Department of Education published thresholds (2024 notice).
Represent Henderson State University and think a figure here is wrong? Request a correction and we'll check it against the latest College Scorecard release.
What this means for your family
Henderson State is a public four year school in Arkadelphia, AR. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR
Worth-It Score: 75/100
Median net price: $17,571
Public 4-year
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Little Rock, AR
Worth-It Score: 54/100
Median net price: $16,882
Public 4-year
University of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $16,423
Public 4-year
Southern Arkansas University
Magnolia, AR
Worth-It Score: 56/100
Median net price: $16,015
Public 4-year
Arkansas State
Jonesboro, AR
Worth-It Score: 62/100
Median net price: $15,441
Common questions about Henderson State
The median net price at Henderson State is $21,843 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Arkansas? See the most affordable public universities in Arkansas →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →
What families actually paid
The published price is rarely what anyone pays. Pick a household income range to see what students at Henderson State in that range paid on average, after grants and scholarships.
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All students who received aid
$21,843a year, on average
Average for first-time, full-time students who received federal financial aid, 2024-25. It does not include transfer or part-time students, and it is an average rather than a quote — what you pay depends on your own circumstances and the aid this school offers you. Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS.
Now work out how to pay for it, cheapest money first.
A Worth-It Score tells you whether the price is justified. The 2026-27 funding guide covers the borrowing order, what changed on July 1, 2026, and the current limits.
Open the 2026-27 funding guide →