Ranking
Best Colleges in Arkansas by ROI 2026
The top-value Arkansas colleges — graduate earnings against net price, from federal data.
- Schools ranked
- 21
- Cheapest net price
- $8,370
- Top earnings 10y
- $63,496
- Public / Private
- 9 / 12
University of Arkansas Grantham
A+- ROI score
- 18.97
- Net price
- $8,370
- Earnings 10y
- $63,496
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
B- ROI score
- 9.72
- Net price
- $10,574
- Earnings 10y
- $41,102
- Acceptance
- 80.5%
Central Baptist College
B- ROI score
- 9.52
- Net price
- $12,287
- Earnings 10y
- $46,789
- Acceptance
- 63.5%
Arkansas State University
B- ROI score
- 8.62
- Net price
- $12,366
- Earnings 10y
- $42,617
- Acceptance
- 82.3%
University of Arkansas
B- ROI score
- 7.99
- Net price
- $18,209
- Earnings 10y
- $58,191
- Acceptance
- 74.3%
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
B- ROI score
- 7.55
- Net price
- $14,027
- Earnings 10y
- $42,386
- Acceptance
- 75.3%
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
C- ROI score
- 7.02
- Net price
- $12,653
- Earnings 10y
- $35,550
- Acceptance
- 41.2%
University of Central Arkansas
C- ROI score
- 6.96
- Net price
- $16,511
- Earnings 10y
- $45,938
- Acceptance
- 89.5%
Philander Smith University
C- ROI score
- 6.75
- Net price
- $14,224
- Earnings 10y
- $38,427
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
Arkansas Baptist College
C- ROI score
- 6.69
- Net price
- $10,627
- Earnings 10y
- $28,418
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
John Brown University
C- ROI score
- 6.61
- Net price
- $20,397
- Earnings 10y
- $53,907
- Acceptance
- 76.1%
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
C- ROI score
- 6.56
- Net price
- $17,248
- Earnings 10y
- $45,265
- Acceptance
- 58.8%
University of the Ozarks
C- ROI score
- 6.39
- Net price
- $17,360
- Earnings 10y
- $44,384
- Acceptance
- 59.5%
Hendrix College
C- ROI score
- 6.25
- Net price
- $24,149
- Earnings 10y
- $60,376
- Acceptance
- 55.7%
Williams Baptist University
C- ROI score
- 6.11
- Net price
- $15,745
- Earnings 10y
- $38,484
- Acceptance
- 83.4%
Crowley's Ridge College
C- ROI score
- 6.06
- Net price
- $16,315
- Earnings 10y
- $39,533
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
Harding University
C- ROI score
- 5.97
- Net price
- $22,130
- Earnings 10y
- $52,876
- Acceptance
- 70.5%
Ouachita Baptist University
C- ROI score
- 5.76
- Net price
- $22,409
- Earnings 10y
- $51,673
- Acceptance
- 67.5%
Lyon College
C- ROI score
- 5.64
- Net price
- $19,616
- Earnings 10y
- $44,232
- Acceptance
- 62.8%
Henderson State University
D- ROI score
- 4.64
- Net price
- $23,405
- Earnings 10y
- $43,459
- Acceptance
- Open / not reported
Ecclesia College
D- ROI score
- 4.60
- Net price
- $22,075
- Earnings 10y
- $40,650
- Acceptance
- 73.8%
How we picked this list
This list starts with Arkansas colleges, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 7.35 (9 public, 12 private).
Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.
FAQ
Who leads this ranking?
University of Arkansas Grantham in LIttle Rock, AR tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A+.
How does EduGradify pick this list?
We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.
How many Arkansas colleges are in this list?
21 Arkansas colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.
What does net price mean here?
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.