Black River Technical College vs. SouthArk

Comparable Facts

Compare Black River Technical College in Pocahontas, AR with South Arkansas College in El Dorado, AR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Black River Technical College is larger than SouthArk based on total student enrollment (1,705 students vs. 1,207 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Black River Technical College is located in Pocahontas, AR (Rural Fringe setting); South Arkansas College is in El Dorado, AR (Remote Town setting).
• Black River Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. South Arkansas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Black River Technical College 16:1; South Arkansas College 12:1.

Black River Technical College vs. SouthArk Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Black River Technical College or SouthArk? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Black River Technical College than SouthArk ($5,887 vs. $7,674).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Black River Technical College are 31.9% lower than at South Arkansas College ($6,510 vs. $9,555).
• Black River Technical College is 29.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SouthArk (about $1,092 more per year; $4,776.00 vs. $3,684.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 35.4% higher at Black River Technical College than at South Arkansas College (about $1,956 more per year; $7,488.00 vs. $5,532.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Arkansas College than at Black River Technical College (84% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Black River Technical College students is 54.5% larger than aid received by South Arkansas College students ($8,489 vs. $5,493).

Black River Technical College vs. SouthArk Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Black River Technical College or SouthArk? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SouthArk and Black River Technical College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Black River Technical College - Open admission; SouthArk - Open admission.

Black River Technical College vs. SouthArk Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Black River Technical College and SouthArk? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from South Arkansas College earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Black River Technical College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,900 vs. $29,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Black River Technical College graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than SouthArk graduates ($8,750 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Black River Technical College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SouthArk graduates ($90 vs. $98).
• More Black River Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SouthArk students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 37%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.