Best ROI Colleges in Arkansas
25 schools ranked by median earnings divided by average net price — the schools where the math actually works. Updated from the latest federal filings.
Includes two-year, technical and community colleges alongside four-year universities — the typeis shown under each name. Schools appear only where the underlying figures exist: a real undergraduate population and a published graduation rate. Satellite campuses that repeat a parent institution's numbers are collapsed into one entry.
| # | School | Earnings ÷ Net Price | Net Price | Grad Rate | Earnings 10yr | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas De Queen · community | 7.7× | $4,385 | 42.3% | $33,775 | — |
| 2 | University of Arkansas Grantham LIttle Rock · public | 7.6× | $8,370 | 22.1% | $63,496 | — |
| 3 | Black River Technical College Pocahontas · community | 6.8× | $5,095 | 55.0% | $34,818 | — |
| 4 | Ozarka College Melbourne · community | 6.5× | $4,543 | 66.2% | $29,314 | — |
| 5 | University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain Mena · community | 6.2× | $4,842 | 50.7% | $30,037 | — |
| 6 | Arkansas Northeastern College Blytheville · community | 6.2× | $5,375 | 46.8% | $33,169 | — |
| 7 | Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas Helena · community | 6.1× | $4,848 | 49.1% | $29,552 | — |
| 8 | NorthWest Arkansas Community College Bentonville · community | 6.0× | $7,196 | 23.5% | $43,505 | — |
| 9 | Arkansas State University Mid-South West Memphis · community | 5.9× | $5,427 | 29.4% | $31,857 | — |
| 10 | Arkansas State University-Newport Newport · community | 4.9× | $8,444 | 43.6% | $41,524 | — |
| 11 | Arkansas State University Three Rivers Malvern · community | 4.6× | $8,070 | 49.5% | $37,374 | — |
| 12 | South Arkansas College El Dorado · community | 4.6× | $7,486 | 44.7% | $34,521 | — |
| 13 | University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville Batesville · community | 4.2× | $8,044 | 49.9% | $33,706 | — |
| 14 | Southern Arkansas University Tech Camden · community | 4.0× | $9,018 | 54.4% | $36,376 | — |
| 15 | University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton Morrilton · community | 4.0× | $8,725 | 38.0% | $34,924 | 100.0% |
| 16 | East Arkansas Community College Forrest City · community | 3.9× | $7,220 | 35.8% | $28,471 | — |
| 17 | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Fort Smith · public | 3.9× | $10,574 | 43.2% | $41,102 | 80.5% |
| 18 | Arkansas State University-Mountain Home Mountain Home · community | 3.9× | $8,847 | 46.2% | $34,238 | — |
| 19 | Central Baptist College Conway · private | 3.8× | $12,287 | 39.1% | $46,789 | 63.5% |
| 20 | University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana Hope · community | 3.7× | $9,270 | 43.1% | $34,162 | — |
| 21 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro · public | 3.4× | $12,366 | 54.3% | $42,617 | 82.3% |
| 22 | North Arkansas College Harrison · community | 3.4× | $10,180 | 39.0% | $34,653 | — |
| 23 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville · public | 3.2× | $12,970 | 52.4% | $41,766 | 95.9% |
| 24 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville · public | 3.2× | $18,209 | 67.6% | $58,191 | 74.3% |
| 25 | Arkansas State University-Beebe Beebe · community | 3.1× | $11,698 | 42.2% | $36,603 | — |
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Data from U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS, College Scorecard, Clery Act). Updated annually. Rankings reflect the data as reported — not editorial opinion.