by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Arkansas, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **17** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 17 graduate schools 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
No school ranked higher than University Of Arkansas this year in Arkansas. University Of Arkansas is a public school based in Fayetteville, AR. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, compared with $29,966 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,555. The median student debt is $24,019.
Out of the 17 graduate schools in Arkansas in this year's ranking, University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences landed the #2 spot. University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences is a public school based in Little Rock, AR. In-state tuition and fees average $9,086, compared with $14,714 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $72,098. Students borrow a median of $23,106 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at Harding University, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Searcy, AR, Harding University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $25,962 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,629 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,715.
You'll be in good company at John Brown University, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Siloam Springs, AR, John Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $31,756 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,420. Students borrow a median of $25,216 to complete a degree here.
Ouachita Baptist University came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Arkansas. Ouachita Baptist University is a private not-for-profit school based in Arkadelphia, AR. Ouachita Baptist University graduates 64% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,500. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $35,820. Typical student debt is $23,520.
Hendrix College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Hendrix College is a private not-for-profit school based in Conway, AR. Hendrix College graduates 72% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $38,200 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $27,605 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,072 in student loans.
Arkansas State University Main Campus placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Arkansas. Located in Jonesboro, AR, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a public institution. Arkansas State University Main Campus graduates 53% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Median early-career earnings reach $48,847. Arkansas State University Main Campus students take on a median of $23,399 in debt.
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock did well this year, earning the #8 position. This public school is set in Little Rock, AR. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock posts a six-year graduation rate of 37%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,911, with out-of-state students paying around $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.
University Of Central Arkansas did well this year, earning the #9 position. Set in Conway, AR, University Of Central Arkansas is a public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,523, with out-of-state students paying around $18,023. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,187. Graduates carry a median of $22,920 in student loans.
Arkansas Tech University placed #10 among the best graduate schools in Arkansas. Arkansas Tech University is a public school based in Russellville, AR. Arkansas Tech University graduates 44% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,674 in tuition and fees, 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 landed the #11 spot in Arkansas this year. Based in Magnolia, AR, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a public institution. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates 44% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,960, compared with $15,690 for out-of-state students. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,723. Typical student debt is $20,385.
Henderson State University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Arkadelphia, AR, Henderson State University is a public institution. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,244, while out-of-state students pay about $10,620. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,131. Graduates carry a median of $23,234 in student loans.
University Of Arkansas At Monticello did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Monticello, AR, University Of Arkansas At Monticello is a public institution. About 38% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,292, while out-of-state students pay about $14,857. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,278 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $15,611.
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Fort Smith, AR, University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,334, compared with $12,182 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $39,204. Graduates carry a median of $20,333 in student loans.
University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a public school based in Pine Bluff, AR. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,375, with out-of-state students paying around $17,955. Early-career graduates earn a median of $35,490. The median student debt is $26,267.
Strayer University Arkansas placed #16 among the best graduate schools in Arkansas. Based in Little Rock, AR, Strayer University Arkansas is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,920. Strayer University Arkansas graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,506. Typical student debt is $47,631.
Grantham University placed #17 among the best graduate schools in Arkansas. Set in LIttle Rock, AR, Grantham University is a public institution. Grantham University graduates 17% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,520. 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 graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Graduate schools are scored on 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.