by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Arkansas, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks **17** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 17 colleges across over 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
No school ranked higher than University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences this year in Arkansas. Located in Little Rock, AR, University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,086, while out-of-state students pay about $14,714. Early-career graduates earn a median of $72,098. Typical student debt is $23,106.
You'll be in good company at University Of Arkansas, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Fayetteville, AR, University Of Arkansas is a public institution. University Of Arkansas graduates 70% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. Median early-career earnings reach $52,555. The median student debt is $24,019.
Out of the 17 colleges in Arkansas in this year's ranking, Harding University landed the #3 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Searcy, AR. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $25,962. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,629. The median student debt is $26,715.
The strong outcomes at John Brown University earned it the #4 place in Arkansas. This private not-for-profit school is set in Siloam Springs, AR. John Brown University posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,756. John Brown University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,420. John Brown University students take on a median of $25,216 in debt.
Ouachita Baptist University came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Arkansas. Set in Arkadelphia, AR, Ouachita Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,500. Early-career graduates earn a median of $35,820. Graduates carry a median of $23,520 in student loans.
Hendrix College landed the #6 spot in Arkansas this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Conway, AR. About 72% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $38,200. Hendrix College graduates report median early-career earnings of $27,605. Graduates carry a median of $25,072 in student loans.
University Of Central Arkansas placed #7 among the best colleges in Arkansas. Located in Conway, AR, University Of Central Arkansas is a public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,523, compared with $18,023 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,187. Typical student debt is $22,920.
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a public school based in Jonesboro, AR. About 53% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,090, compared with $14,522 for out-of-state students. Arkansas State University Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,847. Typical student debt is $23,399.
Lyon College did well this year, earning the #9 position. Lyon College is a private not-for-profit school based in Batesville, AR. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,000.
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock landed the #10 spot in Arkansas this year. Located in Little Rock, AR, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a public institution. About 37% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,911, while out-of-state students pay about $22,721. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,170. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock students take on a median of $27,093 in debt.
Arkansas Tech University landed the #11 spot in Arkansas this year. Arkansas Tech University is a public school based in Russellville, AR. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,674, with out-of-state students paying around $14,668. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,115 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,257 to complete a degree here.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a public school based in Magnolia, AR. About 44% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,960, with out-of-state students paying around $15,690. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,723. Students borrow a median of $20,385 to complete a degree here.
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith placed #13 among the best colleges in Arkansas. Set in Fort Smith, AR, University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public institution. About 38% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $7,334, with out-of-state students paying around $12,182. Median early-career earnings reach $39,204. Students borrow a median of $20,333 to complete a degree here.
Henderson State University placed #14 among the best colleges in Arkansas. This public school is set in Arkadelphia, AR. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,244, while out-of-state students pay about $10,620. Henderson State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,131. Graduates carry a median of $23,234 in student loans.
University Of The Ozarks came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Based in Clarksville, AR, University Of The Ozarks is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of The Ozarks posts a six-year graduation rate of 52%. In-state tuition and fees average $25,950. University Of The Ozarks graduates report median early-career earnings of $31,976. Typical student debt is $21,130.
Williams Baptist College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Set in Walnut Ridge, AR, Williams Baptist College is a private not-for-profit institution. Williams Baptist College graduates 26% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,070. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $31,309. Typical student debt is $18,933.
University Of Arkansas At Monticello did well this year, earning the #17 position. Set in Monticello, AR, University Of Arkansas At Monticello is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,292, while out-of-state students pay about $14,857. University Of Arkansas At Monticello graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,278. University Of Arkansas At Monticello students take on a median of $15,611 in debt.
Central Baptist College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Set in Conway, AR, Central Baptist College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,330. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $44,780. Central Baptist College students take on a median of $46,694 in debt.
University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a public school based in Pine Bluff, AR. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff graduates 40% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,375, with out-of-state students paying around $17,955. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $35,490. Typical student debt is $26,267.
Philander Smith College landed the #20 spot in Arkansas this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Little Rock, AR. Philander Smith College graduates 30% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,014. Median early-career earnings reach $27,413. The median student debt is $38,630.
Crowleys Ridge College landed the #21 spot in Arkansas this year. Crowleys Ridge College is a private not-for-profit school based in Paragould, AR. About 32% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $17,450 in tuition and fees.
Strayer University Arkansas did well this year, earning the #22 position. Set in Little Rock, AR, Strayer University Arkansas is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,920. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,506 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $47,631 in student loans.
Arkansas Baptist College placed #23 among the best colleges in Arkansas. Arkansas Baptist College is a private not-for-profit school based in Little Rock, AR. The six-year graduation rate is 5%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,760.
Ecclesia College placed #24 among the best colleges in Arkansas. This private not-for-profit school is set in Springdale, AR. About 39% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,850.
Grantham University placed #25 among the best colleges in Arkansas. Located in LIttle Rock, AR, Grantham University is a public institution. Grantham University graduates 17% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,520 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,712 early in their careers. The median student debt is $30,600.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.