by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Arkansas, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **36** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 36 colleges on more than 20 objective measures 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.
The best college for you depends on what you want to study. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
Want to compare schools head to head? We built a tool called College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Our analysis found University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences to be the best college in Arkansas. University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences is a public school based in Little Rock, AR. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,086, compared with $14,714 for out-of-state students. University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences graduates report median early-career earnings of $72,098. Graduates carry a median of $23,106 in student loans.
University Of Arkansas came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Arkansas. Set in Fayetteville, AR, University Of Arkansas is a public institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,555. Students borrow a median of $24,019 to complete a degree here.
Harding University came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Arkansas. Located in Searcy, AR, Harding University is a private not-for-profit institution. Harding University graduates 69% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,962. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,629. Harding University students take on a median of $26,715 in debt.
John Brown University came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Arkansas. Set in Siloam Springs, AR, John Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. John Brown University graduates 72% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,756. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,420. The median student debt is $25,216.
A rank of #5 makes Ouachita Baptist University one of the top colleges in Arkansas. Located in Arkadelphia, AR, Ouachita Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Ouachita Baptist University posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. Students from in state pay about $34,500 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,820 early in their careers. Ouachita Baptist University students take on a median of $23,520 in debt.
Hendrix College placed #6 among the best colleges in Arkansas. Hendrix College is a private not-for-profit school based in Conway, AR. Hendrix College posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,200. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $27,605. Hendrix College students take on a median of $25,072 in debt.
University Of Central Arkansas did well this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Conway, AR, University Of Central Arkansas is a public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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 landed the #8 spot in Arkansas this year. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a public school based in Jonesboro, AR. Arkansas State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,090, while out-of-state students pay about $14,522. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,847. Arkansas State University Main Campus students take on a median of $23,399 in debt.
Arkansas Tech University placed #9 among the best colleges in Arkansas. Arkansas Tech University is a public school based in Russellville, AR. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,674, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $45,115. Arkansas Tech University students take on a median of $23,257 in debt.
Lyon College landed the #10 spot in Arkansas this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Batesville, AR. Lyon College graduates 47% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,000.
Southern Arkansas University Tech came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in Camden, AR, Southern Arkansas University Tech is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $6,480. Southern Arkansas University Tech graduates report median early-career earnings of $34,302. Graduates carry a median of $8,488 in student loans.
Arkansas State University Newport came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Newport, AR, Arkansas State University Newport is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,312, while out-of-state students pay about $4,752. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,500 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $10,925.
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock landed the #13 spot in Arkansas this year. Based in Little Rock, AR, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a public institution. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Students borrow a median of $27,093 to complete a degree here.
Northwest Arkansas Community College landed the #14 spot in Arkansas this year. This public school is set in Bentonville, AR. Students from in state pay about $3,342 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,238. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,671. Typical student debt is $12,479.
College Of The Ouachitas landed the #15 spot in Arkansas this year. This public school is set in Malvern, AR. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,788, while out-of-state students pay about $4,388.
Black River Technical College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Pocahontas, AR, Black River Technical College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,776, with out-of-state students paying around $7,488. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,888. Black River Technical College students take on a median of $12,420 in debt.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Magnolia, AR, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,960, with out-of-state students paying around $15,690. Median early-career earnings reach $41,723. The median student debt is $20,385.
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith landed the #18 spot in Arkansas this year. This public school is set in Fort Smith, AR. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. In-state tuition and fees average $7,334, with out-of-state students paying around $12,182. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,204. The median student debt is $20,333.
Henderson State University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Arkadelphia, AR. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,244, while out-of-state students pay about $10,620. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,131. Graduates carry a median of $23,234 in student loans.
Arkansas State University Beebe ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Beebe, AR, Arkansas State University Beebe is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,336, while out-of-state students pay about $5,232. Median early-career earnings reach $30,293. Students borrow a median of $9,350 to complete a degree here.
Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas landed the #21 spot in Arkansas this year. Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a public school based in Helena, AR. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,380, while out-of-state students pay about $4,550. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,190 early in their careers. The median student debt is $5,500.
University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton did well this year, earning the #22 position. University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton is a public school based in Morrilton, AR. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,648, compared with $4,728 for out-of-state students. University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,729. Typical student debt is $13,758.
South Arkansas Community College did well this year, earning the #23 position. Set in El Dorado, AR, South Arkansas Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,324, with out-of-state students paying around $5,532. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,370. Typical student debt is $15,386.
East Arkansas Community College placed #24 among the best colleges in Arkansas. Based in Forrest City, AR, East Arkansas Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $4,380. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,134. East Arkansas Community College students take on a median of $8,110 in debt.
University Of The Ozarks came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Set in Clarksville, AR, University Of The Ozarks is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of The Ozarks graduates 52% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $25,950 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $31,976. Students borrow a median of $21,130 to complete a degree here.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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.