Best Colleges in Arkansas

The higher education experts at BestColleges.com have reviewed top 4-year colleges in Arkansas. Start planning your future at BestColleges.com.
Danika Miller
By
Updated September 25, 2024
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in August 2019 Arkansas had an unemployment rate of 3.9%, a record low for the year. Of the state’s top eight career fields, three – office and administrative support, education, and management – boast average salaries that exceed the statewide average for all occupations. Earning a bachelor’s degree can be instrumental in working toward a high-paying position, though some career paths require a master’s.

Finding the right school for you can be challenging. To aid in your decision-making process, we’ve compiled a ranking that highlights Arkansas’s top 20 colleges and universities. The following institutions offer excellent programs, valuable student support services, and affordable tuition rates. This article also highlights schools’ online learning options, admission requirements, and scholarship opportunities. Use the embedded links to visit each school’s website to learn more. There, you can find contact information for counselors who can answer any questions you may have.

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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

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Ranking Accredited Colleges in Arkansas

#1

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR4 yearCampus + Online

$7,666

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$25,420

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

79%

Acceptance Rate

36%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,875

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,420

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

30,936

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,666

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,420

Fayetteville, AR4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,666

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,420

Acceptance Rate

79%

Online Enrollment

36%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,875

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,420

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

30,936

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#2

Arkansas State University

Jonesboro, AR4 yearCampus + Online

$6,888

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,744

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

70%

Acceptance Rate

67%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,282

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,520

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

13,024

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,888

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,744

Jonesboro, AR4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,888

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,744

Acceptance Rate

70%

Online Enrollment

67%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,282

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,520

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

13,024

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#3

John Brown University

Siloam Springs, AR4 yearCampus + Online

$28,424

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$28,424

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

57%

Acceptance Rate

38%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,920

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,920

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

2,326

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$28,424

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,424

Siloam Springs, AR4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$28,424

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$28,424

Acceptance Rate

57%

Online Enrollment

38%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,920

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,920

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

2,326

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#4

Ouachita Baptist University

Arkadelphia, AR2 yearCampus + Online

$30,500

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$30,500

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

72%

Acceptance Rate

15%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,500

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,500

Retention Rate

79%

Students Enrolled

1,784

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$30,500

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,500

Arkadelphia, AR2 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$30,500

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,500

Acceptance Rate

72%

Online Enrollment

15%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,500

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,500

Retention Rate

79%

Students Enrolled

1,784

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#5

University of Central Arkansas

Conway, AR4 yearCampus + Online

$9,728

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$13,740

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

91%

Acceptance Rate

51%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,133

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,265

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

9,913

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,728

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,740

Conway, AR4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$9,728

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,740

Acceptance Rate

91%

Online Enrollment

51%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,133

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,265

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

9,913

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#6

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Little Rock, AR4 yearCampus + Online

$6,495

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$18,750

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

61%

Acceptance Rate

67%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,760

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,050

Retention Rate

75%

Students Enrolled

8,197

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,495

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,750

Little Rock, AR4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,495

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,750

Acceptance Rate

61%

Online Enrollment

67%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,760

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,050

Retention Rate

75%

Students Enrolled

8,197

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#7

Hendrix College

Conway, AR2 yearCampus

$34,750

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$34,750

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

60%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$34,750

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$34,750

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

1,142

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$34,750

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$34,750

Conway, AR2 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$34,750

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$34,750

Acceptance Rate

60%

Online Enrollment

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$34,750

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$34,750

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

1,142

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#8

Arkansas Tech University

Russellville, AR4 yearCampus + Online

$5,820

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,640

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

94%

Acceptance Rate

57%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,481

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,962

Retention Rate

63%

Students Enrolled

9,445

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,820

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,640

Russellville, AR4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,820

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,640

Acceptance Rate

94%

Online Enrollment

57%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,481

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$10,962

Retention Rate

63%

Students Enrolled

9,445

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#9

Lyon College

Batesville, AR4 yearCampus

$29,900

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,900

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

60%

Acceptance Rate

3%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

51%

Students Enrolled

496

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,900

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,900

Batesville, AR4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$29,900

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$29,900

Acceptance Rate

60%

Online Enrollment

3%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Retention Rate

51%

Students Enrolled

496

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#10

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Magnolia, AR4 yearCampus + Online

$7,020

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,450

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

64%

Acceptance Rate

84%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$3,516

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$5,508

Retention Rate

64%

Students Enrolled

5,094

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,020

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,450

Magnolia, AR4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,020

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,450

Acceptance Rate

64%

Online Enrollment

84%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$3,516

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$5,508

Retention Rate

64%

Students Enrolled

5,094

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

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