by our College Data Analytics TeamUniversity Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences ranks #1 of 25 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in Arkansas ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 44% six-year graduation rate and $57,635 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Arkansas, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **25** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 25 colleges using more than 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.
University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences leads the 25 ranked colleges in Arkansas, followed by University Of Arkansas (#2) and Harding University (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences tops our 2027 ranking of the best colleges in Arkansas. Located in Little Rock, AR, University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,086, while out-of-state students pay about $14,714. Median early-career earnings reach $72,098. Graduates carry a median of $23,106 in student loans.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Arkansas one of the top colleges in Arkansas. Located in Fayetteville, AR, University Of Arkansas is a public institution. University Of Arkansas posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,966. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,555. Graduates carry a median of $24,019 in student loans.
A rank of #3 makes Harding University one of the top colleges in Arkansas. Harding University is a private not-for-profit school based in Searcy, AR. About 69% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $25,962 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,629. Harding University students take on a median of $26,715 in debt.
A rank of #4 makes John Brown University one of the top colleges in Arkansas. This private not-for-profit school is set in Siloam Springs, AR. John Brown University graduates 72% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,756. Median early-career earnings reach $50,420. Typical student debt is $25,216.
A rank of #5 makes Ouachita Baptist University one of the top colleges in Arkansas. Ouachita Baptist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Arkadelphia, AR. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $34,500 in tuition and fees. Ouachita Baptist University graduates report median early-career earnings of $35,820. Typical student debt is $23,520.
Hendrix College landed the #6 spot in Arkansas this year. Located in Conway, AR, Hendrix College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,200. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $27,605. The median student debt is $25,072.
Arkansas State University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a public school based in Jonesboro, AR. About 53% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,847 early in their careers. Arkansas State University Main Campus students take on a median of $23,399 in debt.
University Of Central Arkansas came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Based in Conway, AR, University Of Central Arkansas is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. Students from in state pay about $10,523 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,023 for out-of-state students. University Of Central Arkansas graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,187. The median student debt is $22,920.
Lyon College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Batesville, AR, Lyon College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,000.
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock placed #10 among the best colleges in Arkansas. Based in Little Rock, AR, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,911, while out-of-state students pay about $22,721. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,170. Students borrow a median of $27,093 to complete a degree here.
Arkansas Tech University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Located in Russellville, AR, Arkansas Tech University is a public institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,674, while out-of-state students pay about $14,668. Arkansas Tech University graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,115. Students borrow a median of $23,257 to complete a degree here.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #12 position. This public school is set in Magnolia, AR. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,960, compared with $15,690 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $41,723. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students take on a median of $20,385 in debt.
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith came in at #13 in this year's ranking. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public school based in Fort Smith, AR. About 38% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,334, with out-of-state students paying around $12,182. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,204. Students borrow a median of $20,333 to complete a degree here.
University Of The Ozarks landed the #14 spot in Arkansas this year. Based in Clarksville, AR, University Of The Ozarks is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Students from in state pay about $25,950 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $31,976 early in their careers. University Of The Ozarks students take on a median of $21,130 in debt.
Henderson State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Arkadelphia, AR, Henderson State University is a public institution. About 37% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,244, with out-of-state students paying around $10,620. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,131. Typical student debt is $23,234.
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. The six-year graduation rate is 26%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,070. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $31,309. The median student debt is $18,933.
University Of Arkansas At Monticello placed #17 among the best colleges in Arkansas. This public school is set in Monticello, AR. Roughly 38% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,292, while out-of-state students pay about $14,857. Median early-career earnings reach $41,278. The median student debt is $15,611.
Central Baptist College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Conway, AR, Central Baptist College is a private not-for-profit institution. Central Baptist College posts a six-year graduation rate of 35%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,330. Central Baptist College graduates report median early-career earnings of $44,780. Graduates carry a median of $46,694 in student loans.
University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff landed the #19 spot in Arkansas this year. Based in Pine Bluff, AR, University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,375, compared with $17,955 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $35,490. Graduates carry a median of $26,267 in student loans.
Philander Smith College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Little Rock, AR. Philander Smith College graduates 30% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,014 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $27,413. Philander Smith College students take on a median of $38,630 in debt.
Crowleys Ridge College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Paragould, AR, Crowleys Ridge College is a private not-for-profit institution. Crowleys Ridge College graduates 32% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,450.
Strayer University Arkansas placed #22 among the best colleges in Arkansas. Based in Little Rock, AR, Strayer University Arkansas is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,920. Median early-career earnings reach $58,506. The median student debt is $47,631.
Arkansas Baptist College landed the #23 spot in Arkansas this year. Set in Little Rock, AR, Arkansas Baptist College is a private not-for-profit institution. Arkansas Baptist College graduates 5% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,760.
Ecclesia College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Ecclesia College is a private not-for-profit school based in Springdale, AR. Ecclesia College posts a six-year graduation rate of 39%. In-state tuition and fees average $16,850.
Grantham University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Grantham University is a public school based in LIttle Rock, AR. The six-year graduation rate is 17%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,520. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,712. Typical student debt is $30,600.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.