Best ROI Colleges in Arkansas
25 schools ranked by median earnings relative to net price — the schools where the math actually works. Updated from the latest federal filings.
| # | School | Net Price | Grad Rate | Earnings 10yr | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson Regional School of Nursing Pine Bluff · private | — | 50.4% | $73,975 | — |
| 2 | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock · public | — | 83.4% | $73,827 | — |
| 3 | University of Arkansas Grantham LIttle Rock · public | $8,370 | 22.1% | $63,496 | — |
| 4 | Baptist Health College Little Rock Little Rock · private | $25,454 | 80.3% | $62,244 | 95.5% |
| 5 | Hendrix College Conway · private | $24,149 | 68.2% | $60,376 | 55.6% |
| 6 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville · public | $18,209 | 67.6% | $58,191 | 74.3% |
| 7 | John Brown University Siloam Springs · private | $20,397 | 67.9% | $53,907 | 76.1% |
| 8 | Harding University Searcy · private | $22,130 | 67.9% | $52,876 | 70.5% |
| 9 | Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia · private | $22,409 | 64.9% | $51,673 | 67.5% |
| 10 | Central Baptist College Conway · private | $12,287 | 39.1% | $46,789 | 63.5% |
| 11 | University of Central Arkansas Conway · public | $16,511 | 50.6% | $45,938 | 89.5% |
| 12 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock · public | $17,248 | 46.0% | $45,265 | 58.8% |
| 13 | University of the Ozarks Clarksville · private | $17,360 | 45.6% | $44,384 | 59.5% |
| 14 | Lyon College Batesville · private | $19,616 | 45.3% | $44,232 | 62.8% |
| 15 | NorthWest Arkansas Community College Bentonville · community | $7,196 | 23.5% | $43,505 | — |
| 16 | Henderson State University Arkadelphia · public | $23,405 | 41.6% | $43,459 | — |
| 17 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro · public | $12,366 | 54.3% | $42,617 | 82.3% |
| 18 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia · public | $14,027 | 44.2% | $42,386 | 75.3% |
| 19 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville · public | $12,970 | 52.4% | $41,766 | 95.9% |
| 20 | Arkansas State University-Newport Newport · community | $8,444 | 43.6% | $41,524 | — |
| 21 | Northwest Technical Institute Springdale · public | $15,992 | 73.5% | $41,513 | — |
| 22 | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Fort Smith · public | $10,574 | 43.2% | $41,102 | 80.5% |
| 23 | Ecclesia College Springdale · private | $22,075 | 25.3% | $40,650 | 73.8% |
| 24 | Strayer University-Arkansas Little Rock · private | — | 9.9% | $40,092 | — |
| 25 | Crowley's Ridge College Paragould · private | $16,315 | 28.6% | $39,533 | — |
Compare any two: Jefferson Regional School of Nursing vs University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences →
Go deeper on any school
Personalized match scores, debt payback timelines, major-level earnings, and 20+ data points per school.
Get Full Access — $249/studentBest ROI Colleges in Other States
More Arkansas College Rankings
Data from U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS, College Scorecard, Clery Act). Updated annually. Rankings reflect the data as reported — not editorial opinion.