Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas 2024

Published: Mar 10, 2021
Updated: Oct 26, 2023

Here are the most affordable colleges and universities in Arkansas. Our list will help you find the right kind of school for you, at a price you can afford.

10 Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas 2024

University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Arkansas State University
University of Central Arkansas
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Henderson State University
Arkansas Tech University
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Southern Arkansas University
Philander Smith University

Arkansas Tech University 94%
University of Central Arkansas 92%
University of Arkansas 83%
Henderson State University 75%
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 68%
Williams Baptist University 64%
Arkansas State University 63%
Southern Arkansas University 63%
Central Baptist College 62%
University of Arkansas at Little Rock 58%

Arkansas Baptist College 22 to 1
University of Arkansas 19 to 1
Southern Arkansas University 18 to 1
University of Arkansas–Fort Smith 18 to 1
University of Arkansas Grantham 18 to 1
Arkansas Tech University 17 to 1
Williams Baptist University 16 to 1
University of Central Arkansas 15 to 1
Arkansas State University 14 to 1
Henderson State University 14 to 1

Williams Baptist University $18,570
Central Baptist College $17,400
Crowley's Ridge College $15,250
Philander Smith University $13,014
Arkansas Baptist College $8,760
University of Arkansas Grantham $8,280
University of Arkansas $7,666
University of Central Arkansas $6,870
Southern Arkansas University $6,750
University of Arkansas at Little Rock $6,495

University of Arkansas $7,875
University of Arkansas–Fort Smith $7,092
University of Arkansas at Monticello $6,631
University of Arkansas at Little Rock $5,760
Henderson State University $5,670
Arkansas Tech University $5,414
Southern Arkansas University $5,274
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff $5,184
University of Central Arkansas $5,063
Arkansas State University $4,986

Williams Baptist University
University of Arkansas Grantham
Central Baptist College
University of Arkansas–Fort Smith
Crowley's Ridge College
Arkansas Baptist College
Philander Smith University
Southern Arkansas University
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Arkansas Tech University

University of Arkansas at Little Rock 58%
Central Baptist College 62%
Southern Arkansas University 63%
Arkansas State University 63%
Williams Baptist University 64%
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 68%
Henderson State University 75%
University of Arkansas 83%
University of Central Arkansas 92%
Arkansas Tech University 94%

Crowley's Ridge College 10 to 1
University of Arkansas at Monticello 11 to 1
Central Baptist College 11 to 1
Philander Smith University 12 to 1
University of Arkansas at Little Rock 13 to 1
Arkansas State University 14 to 1
Henderson State University 14 to 1
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 14 to 1
University of Central Arkansas 15 to 1
Williams Baptist University 16 to 1

University of Arkansas–Fort Smith $4,104
University of Arkansas at Monticello $4,779
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff $5,130
Arkansas State University $5,232
Arkansas Tech University $5,736
Henderson State University $5,880
University of Arkansas at Little Rock $6,495
Southern Arkansas University $6,750
University of Central Arkansas $6,870
University of Arkansas $7,666

University of Arkansas Grantham $4,200
Arkansas State University $4,986
University of Central Arkansas $5,063
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff $5,184
Southern Arkansas University $5,274
Arkansas Tech University $5,414
Henderson State University $5,670
University of Arkansas at Little Rock $5,760
University of Arkansas at Monticello $6,631
University of Arkansas–Fort Smith $7,092

Key Takeaways

One of the most prominent business schools in the US, the Sam M. Walton College of Business, is located in Arkansas.
Arkansas is home to a number of affordable colleges and universities.
Arkansas has a lot of college scholarships offered by different foundations and organizations. Students can find financial aid from the state’s numerous scholarship programs.

Table of Contents

Affordability of Colleges in Arkansas

Students in Arkansas will appreciate the spectacular views of the Ozarks and the Old Main, a two-towered brick building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For the sports-minded student, the Razorbacks compete in the NCAA’s Southeastern Conference in Division 1. There is no school in the Southeastern Conference that has won more total national championships than the University of Arkansas.

If you interested in pursuing a business degree, the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas is a good choice. This school is one of the top 25 undergraduate business schools in the country. UA also happens to be at the top of our ranking for one of the most affordable schools in the state.

Students looking for smaller schools with lower teach-to-student ratios will find Arkansas the perfect choice. The Arkansas Department of Higher Education reported that “only eight campuses have a student headcount of more than 6,000. 51% have student headcounts below 3,000”. This is an important consideration if you are interested in a school that is both affordable and small.

Scholarship Options for Arkansas Undergrads

Arkansas’ higher education landscape has numerous options, including 33 public and 12 private colleges, and a lot of online college programs.

Arkansas is a very affordable state to attend college, especially for in-state residents. The average tuition for residents is $4,423, and $11,216 for out-of-state student.

Of course, to make college as affordable as possible, financial aid and scholarships are still essential to help reduce your college expenses. Here are 5 of the best scholarships Arkansas offers to eligible students.

Swayze Woodruff Memorial Mid-South Scholarship: This is one of the 28 scholarships under the American Quarter Horse Foundation in Amarillo. To date, the foundation has distributed more than $6.7 million since 1976.

This regionally-funded scholarship is designed to support Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee residents who have a passion for horseback riding. In a span of four years, eligible students will receive $9,000 for a bachelor’s degree in any program.

Eligibility:

Must be an AQHYA or AGHA member for 12 months or more
Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalents
Must compete regularly in Quarter Horse shows
Must have a minimum GPA of 2.5

Arkansas Chamber Singers Vocal/Choral Music Scholarship: The Arkansas Chamber Singers (ACS) based in Little Rock, gives back through a Vocal/Choral Music Scholarship. This award is for high schoolers who are active in choral music programs statewide with $1,000 or $500 for college.

Eligibility:

Must be a graduating senior at a public or private Arkansas schools
Must possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
Must intend to major in music (vocal or choral) performance)
Must show acceptance at an accredited four-year college

Arkansas High Tech Scholarship: The High Tech Scholarship is an initiative by the Arkansas Department of Career Education to support 20 Arkansas full-time students in post-secondary technical programs. Every semester, recipients receive $250, or $500 annually for four years maximum.

Programs accepted in the scholarship include avionics, graphic design, radiologic technology, biotechnology, nuclear engineering, computer systems technology, and many more.

Eligibility:

Must be a US citizen
Must be a graduate of any Arkansas public school
Must have a minimum secondary GPA of 2.5
Must have a score of at least 19 (ACT) or 730 (SAT)
Must demonstrate leadership capabilities

Cornerstone Charitable Scholarship Trust: This is a need-based scholarship open for incoming college students who are US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents under 25 years old. The trust sends funding every semester to help lower the cost of bachelor’s and associate’s degrees.

Eligibility:

Must have roots in the State of Arkansas
Must hold a high school diploma or GED
Must matriculate full-time at accredited colleges or vocational schools
Must be economically disadvantaged with significant need

NIADA Foundation Region III Scholarship: NIADA (National Independent Automobile Dealers Association) Foundation was established in 2006 and offers four regional scholarships for $3,500 apiece. Region III is composed of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

Eligibility:

Must be classified as high school seniors
Must legally reside in NIADA’s Region III
Must display academic merit with a GPA over 2.5
Must show an aptitude for college work with ACT/SAT scores

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 affordable colleges and 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.

There are 16 colleges and universities in Arkansas with stated tuitions and fees under $20,000/year. The following list of the most affordable colleges and universities in Arkansas is composed entirely of schools offering bachelor’s degree programs, have stated tuition and fees near or under the national average of $16,000/year, and are fully accredited colleges.

Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas 2023

These schools are ranked by academic excellence, and all under $20,000/year.

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Arkansas’s Most Affordable Colleges in Your Area of Interest

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Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas 2024

10 Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas 2024

Key Takeaways

Affordability of Colleges in Arkansas

Scholarship Options for Arkansas Undergrads

Colleges and Universities in Arkansas

What are Arkansas’s Colleges & Universities?

Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas 2023

Career Outlook for degree at University of Arkansas

Most Influential Alumni

University of Arkansas’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Arkansas State University

Most Influential Alumni

Arkansas State University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Central Arkansas

Most Influential Alumni

University of Central Arkansas’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Arkansas Tech University

Most Influential Alumni

Arkansas Tech University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Henderson State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Southern Arkansas University

Most Influential Alumni

Southern Arkansas University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Arkansas at Monticello

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Philander Smith University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Crowley's Ridge College

Career Outlook for degree at Arkansas Baptist College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Arkansas–Fort Smith

Most Influential Alumni

University of Arkansas–Fort Smith’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Central Baptist College

Career Outlook for degree at Williams Baptist University

Career Outlook for degree at University of Arkansas Grantham

University of Arkansas Grantham’s Online Degrees

Arkansas’s Most Affordable Colleges in Your Area of Interest