Best value colleges in Arkansas
Every Arkansas college we have data for, ranked by 10-year return on investment.
84
Colleges
$13,950
Avg net price as of 2024
$40,160
Median earnings as of 2024
$14,551
Median debt as of 2024
Top colleges in Arkansas
Showing the top 59 of 84 by ROI — sort the table, or use the finder to filter all Arkansas colleges by cost, earnings and major.
| # | College | Type | 5-yr earnings | Net price | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | DR Rating | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas State University Three Rivers Malvern, AR | Public | $73,195 | $8,070 | $10,250 | +1,319% | Strong return | |
| 2 | University of Arkansas Grantham LIttle Rock, AR | Public | $70,792 | $8,370 | $21,956 | +522% | Strong return | |
| 3 | Southeast Arkansas College Pine Bluff, AR | Public | $61,730 | $19,038 | $8,600 | +306% | Strong return | |
| 4 | NorthWest Arkansas Community College Bentonville, AR | Public | $51,935 | $7,196 | $9,506 | +288% | Strong return | |
| 5 | John Brown University Siloam Springs, AR | Private | $67,683 | $20,397 | $21,250 | +154% | Strong return | |
| 6 | South Arkansas College El Dorado, AR | Public | $49,001 | $7,486 | $11,153 | +110% | Strong return | |
| 7 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR | Public | $60,034 | $18,209 | $21,500 | +86% | Strong return | |
| 8 | Baptist Health College Little Rock Little Rock, AR | Private | $54,119 | $25,454 | $10,000 | +67% | Strong return | |
| 9 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro, AR | Public | $53,847 | $12,366 | $20,500 | +55% | Break-even | |
| 10 | Harding University Searcy, AR | Private | $59,077 | $22,130 | $26,500 | +43% | Break-even | |
| 11 | Lyon College Batesville, AR | Private | $55,755 | $19,616 | $21,500 | +25% | Break-even | |
| 12 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock, AR | Public | $52,653 | $17,248 | $22,000 | -1% | Poor return | |
| 13 | Hendrix College Conway, AR | Private | $53,971 | $24,149 | $26,688 | -16% | Poor return | |
| 14 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia, AR | Public | $50,245 | $14,027 | $18,750 | -17% | Poor return | |
| 15 | University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR | Public | $50,200 | $16,511 | $20,346 | -29% | Poor return | |
| 16 | Arkansas State University-Newport Newport, AR | Public | $46,377 | $8,444 | $8,002 | -31% | Poor return | |
| 17 | Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia, AR | Private | $49,749 | $22,409 | $21,050 | -51% | Poor return | |
| 18 | Henderson State University Arkadelphia, AR | Public | $47,332 | $23,405 | $19,500 | -77% | Poor return | |
| 19 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR | Public | $46,333 | $12,970 | $21,000 | -78% | Poor return | |
| 20 | University of Arkansas at Monticello Monticello, AR | Public | $45,035 | $14,287 | $19,971 | -100% | Poor return | |
| 21 | Southern Arkansas University Tech Camden, AR | Public | $44,546 | $9,018 | $6,000 | -123% | Poor return | |
| 22 | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Fort Smith, AR | Public | $42,450 | $10,574 | $18,250 | -152% | Poor return | |
| 23 | Philander Smith University Little Rock, AR | Private | $41,166 | $14,224 | $24,736 | -158% | Poor return | |
| 24 | National Park College Hot Springs, AR | Public | $43,290 | $12,720 | $10,500 | -158% | Poor return | |
| 25 | Arkansas Northeastern College Blytheville, AR | Public | $44,185 | $5,375 | — | -176% | Poor return | |
| 26 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, AR | Public | $38,803 | $12,653 | $24,202 | -204% | Poor return | |
| 27 | Northwest Technical Institute Springdale, AR | Public | $42,968 | $15,992 | — | -227% | Poor return | |
| 28 | University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton Morrilton, AR | Public | $41,315 | $8,725 | $10,315 | -274% | Poor return | |
| 29 | Arkansas State University-Beebe Beebe, AR | Public | $39,980 | $11,698 | $8,093 | -291% | Poor return | |
| 30 | University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College North Little Rock, AR | Public | $38,587 | $14,327 | $12,080 | -294% | Poor return | |
| 31 | Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas De Queen, AR | Public | $43,111 | $4,385 | — | -315% | Poor return | |
| 32 | University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville Batesville, AR | Public | $39,304 | $8,044 | $10,250 | -387% | Poor return | |
| 33 | North Arkansas College Harrison, AR | Public | $38,110 | $10,180 | $9,000 | -392% | Poor return | |
| 34 | Shorter College N Little Rock, AR | Private | $33,096 | $14,060 | $29,500 | -406% | Poor return | |
| 35 | University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana Hope, AR | Public | $38,713 | $9,270 | — | -439% | Poor return | |
| 36 | University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community College Forrest City, AR | Public | $36,955 | $7,220 | $6,000 | -584% | Poor return | |
| 37 | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home Mountain Home, AR | Public | $34,505 | $8,847 | $10,500 | -588% | Poor return | |
| 38 | Black River Technical College Pocahontas, AR | Public | $36,800 | $5,095 | $9,500 | -701% | Poor return | |
| 39 | Academy of Professional Cosmetology Rogers, AR | For-profit | $27,029 | $19,513 | $5,500 | -935% | Poor return | |
| 40 | Arkansas Technical School North Little Rock, AR | For-profit | $20,977 | $21,011 | $16,500 | -989% | Poor return | |
| 41 | Arkansas Beauty School-Little Rock Little Rock, AR | For-profit | $20,578 | $23,055 | $6,333 | -1,063% | Poor return | |
| 42 | Arthur's Beauty College Jacksonville, AR | For-profit | $23,825 | $18,200 | $9,833 | -1,072% | Poor return | |
| 43 | Arthur's Beauty College Conway, AR | For-profit | $23,825 | $17,082 | $9,833 | -1,125% | Poor return | |
| 44 | Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas Helena, AR | Public | $34,794 | $4,848 | — | -1,153% | Poor return | |
| 45 | Paul Mitchell the School-Arkansas Fayetteville, AR | For-profit | $25,707 | $14,257 | $9,833 | -1,181% | Poor return | |
| 46 | Paul Mitchell the School-Little Rock North Little Rock, AR | For-profit | $20,772 | $18,356 | $10,725 | -1,188% | Poor return | |
| 47 | Ozarka College Melbourne, AR | Public | $31,098 | $4,543 | $9,818 | -1,198% | Poor return | |
| 48 | Arkansas State University Mid-South West Memphis, AR | Public | $32,696 | $5,427 | — | -1,234% | Poor return | |
| 49 | Arthur's Beauty College Jonesboro, AR | For-profit | $13,295 | $22,187 | $10,500 | -1,319% | Poor return | |
| 50 | Searcy Beauty College Searcy, AR | For-profit | $19,223 | $14,946 | $12,429 | -1,424% | Poor return | |
| 51 | Washington Barber College Inc Little Rock, AR | For-profit | $15,181 | $15,563 | $14,000 | -1,543% | Poor return | |
| 52 | The Salon Professional Academy Sherwood, AR | For-profit | $24,288 | $11,625 | $6,333 | -1,587% | Poor return | |
| 53 | Designer Barber & Stylist School Fort Smith, AR | For-profit | $17,466 | $18,137 | — | -1,618% | Poor return | |
| 54 | Academy of Salon and Spa Fort Smith, AR | For-profit | $19,339 | $14,252 | $4,833 | -1,703% | Poor return | |
| 55 | Career Academy of Hair Design Springdale, AR | For-profit | $20,764 | $12,728 | $6,365 | -1,711% | Poor return | |
| 56 | University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain Mena, AR | Public | $24,720 | $4,842 | $6,500 | -1,783% | Poor return | |
| 57 | Hot Springs Beauty College Hot Springs, AR | For-profit | $14,649 | $14,294 | $9,700 | -1,802% | Poor return | |
| 58 | New Tyler Barber College Inc North Little Rock, AR | For-profit | $17,263 | $15,898 | — | -1,845% | Poor return | |
| 59 | University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology El Dorado, AR | For-profit | $17,219 | $9,634 | $9,833 | -2,202% | Poor return |
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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.