Ground Transportation at Arkansas State University Three Rivers

The estimated numbers from comparable Arkansas ground transportation programs suggest first-year earnings around $39,576 against roughly $9,280 in debt—a ratio of 0.23 that falls comfortably within manageable territory for a certificate program. While this specific program lacks reported outcomes due to small graduate cohorts, the state median earnings align closely with what North Arkansas College reports for the same credential, though they trail the $45,980 that Arkansas State University-Newport's graduates achieve. Nationally, ground transportation certificates typically produce slightly higher first-year earnings ($41,414), suggesting Arkansas programs may lag behind their peers elsewhere.

The debt estimate of $9,280 exceeds the national median for these programs by about $1,500, though it's lower than the state median of $11,715. For a short-term credential designed to launch careers in commercial driving or logistics, this debt load would be recoverable within a few months of full-time work at the projected salary. The fundamentals work mathematically—you're looking at borrowing roughly a quarter of first year earnings for quick workforce entry.

The unknown here is whether Arkansas State Three Rivers specifically matches these peer outcomes or underperforms like Phillips Community College, where graduates earn $30,000. Without actual program data, you're making a bet that this school produces results similar to other Arkansas ground transportation programs. If quick employment in trucking or delivery logistics appeals and the debt stays near $9,000, the economics support moving forward—but confirm job placement rates and whether local employers recruit from this campus specifically.