by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Arkansas, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights 70 graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed graduate schools 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.
The best graduate school for you depends on what you want to study. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. You can also browse by degree level:
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Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Leading the list is University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences, our #1 graduate school in Arkansas. University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences is a public school based in Little Rock, AR. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,086, with out-of-state students paying around $14,714. Early-career graduates earn a median of $72,098. Typical student debt is $23,106.
The strong outcomes at University Of Arkansas earned it the #2 place in Arkansas. Set in Fayetteville, AR, University Of Arkansas is a public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, compared with $29,966 for out-of-state students. 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 Graduate Schools ranking in Arkansas. Set in Searcy, AR, Harding University is a private not-for-profit institution. Harding University graduates 69% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $25,962 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $53,629. Students borrow a median of $26,715 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at John Brown University, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Siloam Springs, AR, John Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. John Brown University posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. Students from in state pay about $31,756 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $50,420. Students borrow a median of $25,216 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #5 makes Ouachita Baptist University one of the top graduate schools 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,500. Ouachita Baptist University graduates report median early-career earnings of $35,820. Graduates carry a median of $23,520 in student loans.
Hendrix College landed the #6 spot in Arkansas this year. Hendrix College is a private not-for-profit school based in Conway, AR. About 72% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,200. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $27,605. Graduates carry a median of $25,072 in student loans.
University Of Central Arkansas ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $22,920 to complete a degree here.
Arkansas State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best graduate schools in Arkansas. This public school is set 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. Graduates carry a median of $23,399 in student loans.
Arkansas Tech University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Russellville, AR. Arkansas Tech University posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,674, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,115. The median student debt is $23,257.
Lyon College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Batesville, AR, Lyon College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $31,000 in tuition and fees.
Southern Arkansas University Tech landed the #11 spot in Arkansas this year. Located in Camden, AR, Southern Arkansas University Tech is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, compared with $6,480 for out-of-state students. Southern Arkansas University Tech graduates report median early-career earnings of $34,302. The median student debt is $8,488.
Arkansas State University Newport ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Newport, AR, Arkansas State University Newport is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $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 did well this year, earning the #13 position. Based in Little Rock, AR, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a public institution. About 37% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $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. The median student debt is $27,093.
Northwest Arkansas Community College landed the #14 spot in Arkansas this year. This public school is set in Bentonville, AR. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,342, while out-of-state students pay about $5,238. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,671. Typical student debt is $12,479.
College Of The Ouachitas placed #15 among the best graduate schools in Arkansas. College Of The Ouachitas is a public school based in Malvern, AR. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,788, while out-of-state students pay about $4,388.
Black River Technical College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Set in Pocahontas, AR, Black River Technical College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,776 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,488. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,888 early in their careers. The median student debt is $12,420.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus placed #17 among the best graduate schools in Arkansas. Set in Magnolia, AR, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,960, compared with $15,690 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $41,723. Graduates carry a median of $20,385 in student loans.
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith landed the #18 spot in Arkansas this year. Set in Fort Smith, AR, University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public institution. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates 38% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $7,334 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,182 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,204. Typical student debt is $20,333.
Henderson State University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Henderson State University is a public school based in Arkadelphia, AR. Henderson State University graduates 37% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,244 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,620. Henderson State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,131. Students borrow a median of $23,234 to complete a degree here.
Arkansas State University Beebe landed the #20 spot in Arkansas this year. Set in Beebe, AR, Arkansas State University Beebe is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,336, with out-of-state students paying around $5,232. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $30,293. Students borrow a median of $9,350 to complete a degree here.
Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas did well this year, earning the #21 position. Set in Helena, AR, Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,380, with out-of-state students paying around $4,550. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,190. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete a degree here.
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, while out-of-state students pay about $4,728. University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,729. The median student debt is $13,758.
South Arkansas Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. South Arkansas Community College is a public school based in El Dorado, AR. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,324, with out-of-state students paying around $5,532. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $59,370. The median student debt is $15,386.
East Arkansas Community College did well this year, earning the #24 position. East Arkansas Community College is a public school based in Forrest City, AR. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, while out-of-state students pay about $4,380. East Arkansas Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,134. The median student debt is $8,110.
University Of The Ozarks ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Clarksville, AR. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,950. University Of The Ozarks graduates report median early-career earnings of $31,976. Graduates carry a median of $21,130 in student loans.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 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.