2026 Best Value Value Schools in Arkansas
[Value](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Value Schools in Arkansas
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Leading the list is Arkansas State University Main Campus, our #1 best value for value in Arkansas. Located in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,090 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,522. Students borrow a median of $23,399 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $64,900. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
A rank of #2 makes Southern Arkansas University Main Campus one of the best values for value. Set in the town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,960, compared with $15,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,385 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $41,723. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Located in the city of Little Rock, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,911, with out-of-state students paying around $22,721. Students borrow a median of $27,093 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Arkansas At Little Rock generally make around $47,170. That is a strong return on a $27,093 median debt. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock admits about 59% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
