2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas
It's not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for veterans. College Factual has developed its Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
After analyzing 29 schools in Arkansas, we came up with our list of those that offered the best educational experiences for veterans. Our ranking methodology focuses on over 20 different objective factors - such as percentage of costs covered by the GI Bill®, number of GI Bill® recipients at the school, and overall quality - to make this determination.
Get more details on our ranking methodology.
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Top Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas
See which schools came out on top of our ranking:
Our analysis found University of Arkansas to be the best school for veterans in Arkansas in this year’s ranking. Located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the large public school awarded 6,924 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
Of the 27,562 students enrolled at UARK, 829 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 397 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $5,312. During this same period, 12 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. UARK does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
UARK also made our Best Schools in Arkansas list, coming in at #2.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend John Brown University. The school came in at #2 in Arkansas on this year’s best for vets ranking. Located in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 569 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, JBU supports 2,343 students, and 54 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 38 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $10,611. On top of their other funding sources, 10 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. JBU does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
The low student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. JBU also made our Best Schools in Arkansas list, coming in at #3.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Arkansas at Little Rock helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for veterans in Arkansas. This medium-sized public school is located in Little Rock, Arkansas, and it awarded 2,245 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 8,899 students enrolled at UA Little Rock, 624 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 332 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,793. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
A rank of #4 on our Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas list means Arkansas Tech University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. This fairly large public school is located in Russellville, Arkansas, and it awarded 2,939 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Of the 10,829 students enrolled at ATU, 416 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 190 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $5,081. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Out of the 29 schools in Arkansas that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Arkansas University Tech landed the #5 spot on the list. SAU Tech is a small public school situated in Camden, Arkansas. It awarded 132 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 769 students enrolled at SAU Tech, 35 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 23 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $3,183. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Harding University landed the #6 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas ranking. Harding is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Searcy, Arkansas. It awarded 1,320 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 4,617 students enrolled at Harding, 122 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 86 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $12,973. On top of their other funding sources, 2 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Harding did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our Best Schools in Arkansas list.
Arkansas State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the fairly large public school awarded 4,106 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
Of the 13,106 students enrolled at A-State, 447 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 218 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,835. A-State does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, A-State also is in the top 20% of our Best Schools in Arkansas ranking.
University of Central Arkansas ranked #8 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas list. Located in Conway, Arkansas, the fairly large public school awarded 2,405 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, UCA supports 10,335 students, and 540 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 201 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $5,282. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
On top of its placing in our veterans ranking, UCA also did well on our Best Schools in Arkansas list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Arkansas State University - Mountain Home landed the #9 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas ranking. ASUMH is a small public school situated in Mountain Home, Arkansas. It awarded 219 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, ASUMH supports 1,271 students, and 85 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 71 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,418. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Read full report on Arkansas State University - Mountain Home
University of Arkansas - Fort Smith ranked #10 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas list. UAFS is a medium-sized public school situated in Fort Smith, Arkansas. It awarded 1,066 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 5,887 students enrolled at UAFS, 312 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 152 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,713. UAFS does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, the small public school handed out 503 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Of the 2,668 students enrolled at UAPB, 150 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 31 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,656. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
University of Arkansas at Monticello ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas list. UAM is located in Monticello, Arkansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,017 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Among the 2,645 students enrolled at UAM, 78 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 41 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,104. UAM does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Ouachita Baptist University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas ranking. Ouachita Baptist is a private not-for-profit institution located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 367 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 31 of the 1,704 students enrolled at Ouachita Baptist were GI Bill® students, of which 20 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $19,017. To help with additional expenses, 8 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Ouachita Baptist also made our Best Schools in Arkansas list, coming in at #5.
Arkansas State University - Beebe ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas list. Located in Beebe, Arkansas, the small public school handed out 797 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 277 of the 2,982 students enrolled at ASU-Beebe were GI Bill® students, of which 146 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,281. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Ozarka College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas ranking. Ozarka College is located in Melbourne, Arkansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 223 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Of the 1,033 students enrolled at Ozarka College, 47 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 29 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $3,288. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Arkansas State University Three Rivers did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas ranking, coming in at #16. Malvern, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 124 students in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 22 of the 1,243 students enrolled at ASU Three Rivers were GI Bill® students, of which 14 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $3,556. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas list. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a small public school located in Magnolia, Arkansas that handed out 1,321 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 4,432 students enrolled at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus, 115 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 30 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $5,917. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville ranked #18 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas list. Located in Batesville, Arkansas, the small public school handed out 244 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 43 of the 1,224 students enrolled at UACCB were GI Bill® students, of which 20 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,914. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Full University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville Report
Arkansas Northeastern College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas list. This small public school is located in Blytheville, Arkansas, and it awarded 154 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Of the 1,358 students enrolled at Arkansas Northeastern College, 32 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 15 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $1,833. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Henderson State University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas ranking, coming in at #20. Henderson State University is located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 667 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
According to our most recent data, Henderson State University supports 3,163 students, and 153 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 67 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $5,873.
Central Baptist College landed the #21 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas ranking. CBC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Conway, Arkansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 201 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, CBC supports 604 students, and 54 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 37 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,929. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Philander Smith College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas ranking. Philander Smith is located in Little Rock, Arkansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 120 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Our most recent data shows that 42 of the 799 students enrolled at Philander Smith were GI Bill® students, of which 10 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,145. Philander Smith does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
East Arkansas Community College did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Forrest City, Arkansas, the small public school awarded 147 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
Among the 934 students enrolled at East Arkansas Community College, 40 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 19 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,000. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
With a ranking of #24, University of the Ozarks did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Clarksville, Arkansas, and it awarded 139 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 836 students enrolled at Ozarks, 12 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 2 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $7,239.
Lyon College did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Arkansas ranking, coming in at #25. Lyon is located in Batesville, Arkansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 144 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Of the 665 students enrolled at Lyon, 18 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 5 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $19,398. During this same period, 3 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Lyon does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Lyon also claimed a spot on our Best Schools in Arkansas list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
Best Colleges for Veterans in the Southeast Region
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Best Colleges in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top 25 schools only.
**GI Bill® student total includes all chapters of the GI Bill® program (e.g., Post-9/11, Montgomery GI Bill, Reserve Education Assistance Program, and Veteran Readiness and Employment)
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Veteran-specific data can be found at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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