Colleges in Arkansas
24 colleges in Arkansas that award bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates: 11 public and 13 private. 1 of them, mostly state colleges, award bachelor's degrees in fewer than a quarter of their undergraduate awards, and 2 award a substantial mix of both. Among colleges where most degrees awarded are bachelor's, the lowest average net price is at Arkansas Baptist College ($10,627 a year after grants). Numbers are averages for students receiving federal aid; open a school to see what a family at your income pays.
| College | City | Type | Undergrads | Acceptance | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Baptist College | Little Rock | Private | 342 | — | $10,627 | 7% | $28,418 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro | Public | 9,110 | 82% | $12,366 | 55% | $42,617 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville | PublicMostly 2-year · 24% bachelor's | 5,388 | 96% | $12,970 | 49% | $41,766 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway | Private | 484 | 63% | $12,287 | 34% | $46,789 |
| Champion Christian College | Hot Springs | Private | 144 | — | $17,002 | 0% | — |
| Crowley's Ridge College | Paragould | Private | 165 | — | $16,315 | 36% | $39,533 |
| Ecclesia College | Springdale | Private | 108 | 74% | $22,075 | 40% | $40,650 |
| Harding University | Searcy | Private | 3,382 | 71% | $22,130 | 69% | $52,876 |
| Henderson State University | Arkadelphia | Public | 1,456 | 82% | $23,405 | 37% | $43,459 |
| Hendrix College | Conway | Private | 1,100 | 56% | $24,149 | 72% | $60,376 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs | Private | 1,471 | 76% | $20,397 | 72% | $53,907 |
| Lyon College | Batesville | Private | 648 | 63% | $19,616 | 47% | $44,232 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia | Private | 1,602 | 68% | $22,409 | 61% | $51,673 |
| Philander Smith University | Little Rock | Private | 751 | — | $14,224 | 30% | $38,427 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia | Public | 2,708 | 75% | $14,027 | 49% | $42,386 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville | Public | 28,677 | 74% | $18,209 | 71% | $58,191 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock | Public | 4,949 | 59% | $17,248 | 42% | $45,265 |
| University of Arkansas at Monticello | Monticello | PublicBachelor's & associate · 30% bachelor's | 1,933 | — | $14,287 | 49% | $36,902 |
| University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | Pine Bluff | Public | 1,807 | 41% | $12,653 | 40% | $35,550 |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | Little Rock | Public | 1,571 | — | — | — | $73,827 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith | PublicBachelor's & associate · 32% bachelor's | 4,091 | 80% | $10,574 | 38% | $41,102 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway | Public | 7,762 | 89% | $16,511 | 54% | $45,938 |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville | Private | 767 | 60% | $17,360 | 51% | $44,384 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge | Private | 478 | 83% | $15,745 | 26% | $38,484 |
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, latest reported year. Graduation within 6 years; earnings are the median 10 years after starting college.
Best value in Arkansas for your income
The Arkansas colleges that pay back fastest for a family at your income: what it costs to finish after grants, set against how much more former students earn than high school graduates in Arkansas. Pick your income.
| # | College | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Earnings, 10 yrs | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of ArkansasPublic, in-state price | $15,934 | $67,560 | $58,191 | 2.6 |
| 2 | John Brown UniversityPrivate | $16,655 | $68,619 | $53,907 | 3.2 |
| 3 | Central Baptist CollegePrivate | $12,067 | $52,129 | $46,789 | 3.6 |
| 4 | Ouachita Baptist UniversityPrivate | $18,007 | $74,549 | $51,673 | 3.9 |
| 5 | Hendrix CollegePrivate | $26,414 | $108,562 | $60,376 | 3.9 |
| 6 | Harding UniversityPrivate | $19,832 | $84,088 | $52,876 | 4.1 |
| 7 | Arkansas State UniversityPublic, in-state price | $12,205 | $52,237 | $42,617 | 5.1 |
| 8 | University of Central ArkansasPublic, in-state price | $16,203 | $69,511 | $45,938 | 5.1 |
| 9 | Southern Arkansas University Main CampusPublic, in-state price | $13,790 | $59,297 | $42,386 | 5.9 |
| 10 | Lyon CollegePrivate | $17,348 | $73,729 | $44,232 | 6.2 |
Colleges where most degrees awarded are bachelor's, ranked by years of earnings gain needed to repay the cost to finish at this income. Cost to finish = net price after grants × the average years graduates took (IPEDS). Earnings gain = former students' median earnings 10 years after starting (College Scorecard) minus $32,399 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in Arkansas (Census ACS 2020-2024). Before taxes, interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
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