Ranking

Cheapest Colleges in Arkansas 2026

University of Arkansas Grantham leads this list with an average net price of $8,370 per year. EduGradify shows 21 colleges here after checking federal net-price and earnings data.

The lowest-net-price colleges in Arkansas that report federal earnings.

Schools ranked: 21
Cheapest net price: $8,370
Top earnings 10y: $63,496
Public / Private: 9 / 12

University of Arkansas Grantham

A+

LIttle Rock, AR · Public

Net price/yr: $8,370
Net price: $8,370
Earnings 10y: $63,496
Acceptance: Open / not reported

University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

Fort Smith, AR · Public

Net price/yr: $10,574
Net price: $10,574
Earnings 10y: $41,102
Acceptance: 80.5%

Arkansas Baptist College

Little Rock, AR · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $10,627
Net price: $10,627
Earnings 10y: $28,418
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Central Baptist College

Conway, AR · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $12,287
Net price: $12,287
Earnings 10y: $46,789
Acceptance: 63.5%

Arkansas State University

Jonesboro, AR · Public

Net price/yr: $12,366
Net price: $12,366
Earnings 10y: $42,617
Acceptance: 82.3%

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Pine Bluff, AR · Public

Net price/yr: $12,653
Net price: $12,653
Earnings 10y: $35,550
Acceptance: 41.2%

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Magnolia, AR · Public

Net price/yr: $14,027
Net price: $14,027
Earnings 10y: $42,386
Acceptance: 75.3%

Philander Smith University

Little Rock, AR · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $14,224
Net price: $14,224
Earnings 10y: $38,427
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Williams Baptist University

Walnut Ridge, AR · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $15,745
Net price: $15,745
Earnings 10y: $38,484
Acceptance: 83.4%

#10

Crowley's Ridge College

Paragould, AR · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $16,315
Net price: $16,315
Earnings 10y: $39,533
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#11

University of Central Arkansas

Conway, AR · Public

Net price/yr: $16,511
Net price: $16,511
Earnings 10y: $45,938
Acceptance: 89.5%

#12

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Little Rock, AR · Public

Net price/yr: $17,248
Net price: $17,248
Earnings 10y: $45,265
Acceptance: 58.8%

#13

University of the Ozarks

Clarksville, AR · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $17,360
Net price: $17,360
Earnings 10y: $44,384
Acceptance: 59.5%

#14

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR · Public

Net price/yr: $18,209
Net price: $18,209
Earnings 10y: $58,191
Acceptance: 74.3%

#15

Lyon College

Batesville, AR · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $19,616
Net price: $19,616
Earnings 10y: $44,232
Acceptance: 62.8%

#16

John Brown University

Siloam Springs, AR · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $20,397
Net price: $20,397
Earnings 10y: $53,907
Acceptance: 76.1%

#17

Ecclesia College

Springdale, AR · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $22,075
Net price: $22,075
Earnings 10y: $40,650
Acceptance: 73.8%

#18

Harding University

Searcy, AR · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $22,130
Net price: $22,130
Earnings 10y: $52,876
Acceptance: 70.5%

#19

Ouachita Baptist University

Arkadelphia, AR · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $22,409
Net price: $22,409
Earnings 10y: $51,673
Acceptance: 67.5%

#20

Henderson State University

Arkadelphia, AR · Public

Net price/yr: $23,405
Net price: $23,405
Earnings 10y: $43,459
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#21

Hendrix College

Conway, AR · Private Non-Profit

Net price/yr: $24,149
Net price: $24,149
Earnings 10y: $60,376
Acceptance: 55.7%

How we picked this list

This list starts with Arkansas colleges, removes schools without usable net-price data, then sorts from lowest average net price upward. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 7.35 (9 public, 12 private).

Source transparency: every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard public data set. See our full methodology for the ROI formula, value grade rules and missing-data handling.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

University of Arkansas Grantham in LIttle Rock, AR tops this ranking. Average net price is $8,370 per year.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by net price/yr 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.

Can I use this ranking as a final college decision?

Use it as a shortlist, not a final decision. The ranking compares school-wide federal data; you should still confirm program fit, aid letters, graduation path, transfer policies and current costs with each college.