Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Research Universities in Arkansas 2024

Q: Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Badge for BEST IN ARKANSAS RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES

By Dr. James Barham

Updated: Oct 26, 2023

Interested in attending a STEM school in Arkansas? Our ranking of top research universities for bachelor’s degrees displays schools that will best prepare you for STEM careers.

Best Research Universities in Arkansas 2024

University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Arkansas State University
University of Central Arkansas
Harding University

University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Arkansas State University
University of Central Arkansas
Harding University

University of Central Arkansas 91%
University of Arkansas 79%
Arkansas State University 70%
University of Arkansas at Little Rock 61%
Harding University 45%

University of Arkansas 20 to 1
Arkansas State University 15 to 1
Harding University 15 to 1
University of Central Arkansas 14 to 1
University of Arkansas at Little Rock 11 to 1

Harding University $23,148
University of Arkansas $7,666
University of Central Arkansas $6,950
Arkansas State University $6,888
University of Arkansas at Little Rock $6,495

Harding University $12,399
University of Arkansas $7,875
Arkansas State University $6,282
University of Arkansas at Little Rock $5,760
University of Central Arkansas $5,133

Harding University
University of Central Arkansas
Arkansas State University
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas

Harding University
University of Central Arkansas
Arkansas State University
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas

Harding University 45%
University of Arkansas at Little Rock 61%
Arkansas State University 70%
University of Arkansas 79%
University of Central Arkansas 91%

University of Arkansas at Little Rock 11 to 1
University of Central Arkansas 14 to 1
Arkansas State University 15 to 1
Harding University 15 to 1
University of Arkansas 20 to 1

University of Arkansas at Little Rock $6,495
Arkansas State University $6,888
University of Central Arkansas $6,950
University of Arkansas $7,666
Harding University $23,148

University of Central Arkansas $5,133
University of Arkansas at Little Rock $5,760
Arkansas State University $6,282
University of Arkansas $7,875
Harding University $12,399

Table of Contents

Colleges and Universities in Arkansas

Colleges and universities in Arkansas are uniquely affordable, with just under half providing tuition rates of $9,000 or less. We’ve also found 7 high quality colleges offering online degree programs in Arkansas.

Indeed, online students can earn their degree at one of the state’s two largest universities, the University of Arkansas or Arkansas State University.

Though students can find some overlapping degree programs at the two schools, each has its specialties. For example, students hoping to pursue degrees in architecture, agriculture, or business may want to consider the University of Arkansas, while those interested in biology, nursing, or political science may want to attend Arkansas State University. It is possible to study these subjects both through traditional and online degree programs in the state of Arkansas.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

Roughly one third of the schools in Arkansas have a religious affiliation. Student populations at these schools range from just under 200 students up to 5,000. Both traditional and online students can pursue degrees that merge religious studies with fields like chemistry and history.

Tuition rates at each of the state’s 12 private schools vary greatly. Arkansas’s private colleges and schools cost anywhere between $9,000 and $46,000. Many of these private colleges boast high graduation rates and small class sizes.

Arkansas is perhaps best-known and loved for its countless lakes, Hot Springs National Park, and the United States’ only active diamond mine. However, the Natural State houses many higher education institutes where both traditional and online students can earn associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in a full range of disciplines.

With so many affordable schools and competitive on-campus and online degree programs, students attending school in Arkansas have the luxury of combining their individual budget needs with their desired degree paths. For more information on attending school in Arkansas, check out some of the state’s top schools.

What are Arkansas’s Colleges & Universities?

Arkansas’s Best Overall

How do we determine Arkansas's best research universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

A research university is a great option for students interested in obtaining STEM degrees. Research universities invest heavily in research, which consequently provides meaningful and extensive opportunities for its students and faculty to participate in research. We’ve identified 5 research universities in Arkansas. To be included in our ranking, schools must be a fully accredited universities and must must offer doctoral degrees across the range of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

Best Research Universities in Arkansas 2023

#1
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville , AR
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #1 Best Public Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #1 Best Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #1 Best Grad Schools in Arkansas 2025
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
69%
Student body
32K
Median SAT/ACT
1125/24
Career Outlook for degree at University of Arkansas
Cost of Degree: $9,748
Expenses: $20,260
Starting Salary: $52,700
Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of Arkansas known for?

University of Arkansas’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Business
Law
History
Criminal Justice
Earth Sciences
Education
Chemistry
Political Science
Nursing
Mathematics

Most Influential Alumni

Joycelyn Elders
Edward Durell Stone
Nic Pizzolatto
Michael Dertouzos
Lucinda Roy
Vince Foster
Rodney E. Slater
Samuel Totten
W. T. Martin
Barry Hannah
Barry Switzer
Sarah Caldwell
University of Arkansas’s Online Degrees
BS in Business Administration

Degree Concentrations
Accounting
General Business
Supply Chain Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Education

Degree Concentrations
Human Resources And Workforce Development Education

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Human Development And Family Sciences

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Interdisciplinary Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#2
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Little Rock , AR
#2 Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #2 Best Public Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #2 Best Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #2 Best Grad Schools in Arkansas 2025
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
61%
Graduation
42%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1095/21
Career Outlook for degree at University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Cost of Degree: $9,617
Expenses: $17,401
Starting Salary: $39,500
Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of Arkansas at Little Rock known for?

University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Earth Sciences
Chemistry
Medical
Law
Political Science
Criminal Justice
Communications
Biology
History
Engineering

Most Influential Alumni

Derek Fisher
James E. Cofer
Dona Bailey
Julie Adams
Carlos Rogers
Mike Saunders
Charles Bruce Stephenson
Charlie Daniels
Christy Smith
Dick Powell
John Allen Hendricks
Betty Dickey
Compare school
#3
Arkansas State University
Jonesboro , AR
#3 Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #3 Best Public Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #3 Best Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #3 Best Grad Schools in Arkansas 2025
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
53%
Student body
18K
Median SAT/ACT
1090/22
Career Outlook for degree at Arkansas State University
Cost of Degree: $7,754
Expenses: $18,472
Starting Salary: $36,600
Cost Recoup Time: 13 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Arkansas State University known for?

Arkansas State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Business
Psychology
History
Education
Biology
Medical
Literature
Nursing
Computer Science
Political Science

Most Influential Alumni

Lonnie D. Bentley
Miller Williams
Larry P. Arnn
Rodger Bumpass
Charlie Rich
Mike Beebe
John Wood
James Leon Holmes
George Kell
Tess Harper
Malcolm L. McCallum
Kathy Ensor
Arkansas State University’s Online Degrees
BS in Business Administration

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BAS in Organizational Supervision

Required Credits: 125
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Digital Innovation

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Criminology

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Disaster Preparedness/Emergency Management

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Communication Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Creative Media Production

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BGS in General Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Political Science

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Sociology

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BS in Strategic Communication

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Nursing: RN to BSN in Nursing

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BA in Psychology

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#4
University of Central Arkansas
Conway , AR
#4 Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #4 Best Public Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #4 Best Grad Schools in Arkansas 2025 #5 Best Colleges in Arkansas 2024
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
50%
Student body
12K
Median SAT/ACT
1035/22
Career Outlook for degree at University of Central Arkansas
Cost of Degree: $10,118
Expenses: $15,339
Starting Salary: $42,500
Cost Recoup Time: 12 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is University of Central Arkansas known for?

University of Central Arkansas’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Chemistry
Economics
Mathematics
Literature
History
Education
Political Science
Communications
Sociology
Business

Most Influential Alumni

Scottie Pippen
Miller Williams
Mary L. Good
Dee Brown
Kris Allen
Charlie Strong
Stanley E. Trauth
Allen Meadors
James R. Barker
James Dickey
Scott Brumfield
John Thompson
University of Central Arkansas’s Online Degrees
BBA in General Business

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BBA in Insurance And Risk Management

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BBA in Management Information Systems

Degree Concentrations
Business Analytics

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BGS in General Studies

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: Online
Compare school
#5
Harding University
Searcy , AR
#18 Best CCCU Colleges and Universities 2024 #2 Best Private Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #2 Best Christian Colleges in Arkansas 2025 #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
Tuition + fees
$23K
Acceptance
45%
Graduation
69%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1170/24
Career Outlook for degree at Harding University
Cost of Degree: $24,888
Expenses: $14,410
Starting Salary: $47,000
Cost Recoup Time: 14 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
What is Harding University known for?

Harding University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

Religious Studies
Chemistry
Mathematics
Business
History
Nursing
Education
Criminal Justice
Political Science
Sociology

Most Influential Alumni

Ken Starr
Rubel Shelly
Thomas B. Warren
Granville Sewell
Khalil Jahshan
Bruce McLarty
Ed Madden
Clifton L. Ganus Jr.
Roger Duke
Chad Marshall
Stedman Graham
Timothy Chad Hutchinson
Harding University’s Online Degrees
BA in Bible And Ministry

Required Credits: 120
Completion Time: None Reported
Format: None Reported
Compare school

Build your own college rankings

Find the Best Research Universities in Arkansas for Your Area of Interest

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines.

Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students.

Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).

Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers.

Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available.

Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online.

Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands.

Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.

Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving.

If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.

The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors.

Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

Check out our directory of research universities throughout the U.S. for a look at the top research institutions in every state.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Research Universities in Arkansas 2024

Best Research Universities in Arkansas 2024

Colleges and Universities in Arkansas

What are Arkansas’s Colleges & Universities?

Arkansas’s Best Overall

Best Research Universities in Arkansas 2023

University of Arkansas

Career Outlook for degree at University of Arkansas

Most Influential Alumni

University of Arkansas’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Career Outlook for degree at University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Most Influential Alumni

Arkansas State University

Career Outlook for degree at Arkansas State University

Most Influential Alumni

Arkansas State University’s Online Degrees

University of Central Arkansas

Career Outlook for degree at University of Central Arkansas

Most Influential Alumni

University of Central Arkansas’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Harding University

Career Outlook for degree at Harding University

Most Influential Alumni

Harding University’s Online Degrees

Find the Best Research Universities in Arkansas for Your Area of Interest