2027 Best Value Journalism Schools in Arkansas

[Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/journalism/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for journalism students.
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2027 Best Value Journalism Schools in Arkansas
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the journalism degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Journalism Schools
Our analysis ranked Arkansas Tech University the best value for a degree in journalism in Arkansas. Set in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,674, with out-of-state students paying around $14,668. Journalism graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Journalism graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of $32,183 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arkansas Tech University admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in journalism will find it at University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Pine Bluff, University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,375, compared with $17,955 for out-of-state students. Journalism graduates carry a median of $28,807 in student loans. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff generally make around $27,259. Set against $28,807 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 41%.
Students looking for strong value in journalism will find it at University Of Central Arkansas, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,523 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,023. Journalism graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Central Arkansas generally make around $31,911. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value journalism schools. Located in the city of Little Rock, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,911, while out-of-state students pay about $22,721. Students borrow a median of $27,093 to complete the journalism program here. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from University Of Arkansas At Little Rock generally make around $47,170. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in journalism will find it at University Of Arkansas, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $21,500. Journalism graduates of University Of Arkansas earn a median of $38,354 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.