Arkansas’s Most Affordable Colleges & Universities of 2021

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. Included in this list are the state’s two largest universities, the University of Arkansas and 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.

Additionally, about 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, and allow students to pursue degrees merging religious studies with fields like chemistry and history. While tuition at each of the state’s 12 private schools varies greatly, costing anywhere between $9,000 and $46,000, many of these colleges boast high graduation rates and small class sizes.

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

With so many affordable schools and competitive 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.

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The following list of the most affordable colleges and universities in Arkansas is composed entirely of schools offering four-year undergraduate degree programs. We’ve identified 16 colleges and universities that satisfy the following three conditions:

1. It must be fully accredited.
2. It must offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees
3. Its stated tuition and fees must be under the national average of $16,000/year.

How do we determine Arkansas's most affordable colleges and universities?

The best colleges pound for pound!

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why, at the undergraduate level, we rank the best colleges and universities based on what we call Concentrated Influence. Concentrated Influence takes the combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers (including faculty and alums) and divides it by the school’s total number of undergraduates.

Using concentrated influence gives small and mid-sized schools an opportunity to shine by taking away the size advantage of larger universities. A small school with proportionately more influential faculty than a large school, whose influence in absolute terms may be bigger, will nonetheless score higher in a concentrated influence ranking. Our approach highlights undergraduate schools that truly rank for excellence, regardless of size.

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.

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

Find out more about our ranking methodology here.

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Arkansas’s Most Affordable Colleges & Universities

1. 

   #1

   University of Arkansas – Fort Smith

   #8205 institution's overall influence

   #221 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $6K

   Graduation

   26%

   Student body

   5K

   Fort Smith, AR

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   What is University of Arkansas – Fort Smith known for?

   University of Arkansas – Fort Smith's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Chemistry
   • Literature
   • Mathematics
   • Criminal Justice
   • Engineering
   • History
   • Biology
   • Medical
   • Education

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Laurence Luckinbill
   • Mike Neighbors
2. 

   #2

   Arkansas Tech University

   #9029 institution's overall influence

   #1227 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $7K

   Acceptance

   90%

   Graduation

   37%

   Student body

   9K

   Russellville, AR

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   What is Arkansas Tech University known for?

   Arkansas Tech University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Chemistry
   • Earth Sciences
   • History
   • Nursing
   • Political Science
   • Education
   • Psychology
   • Business
   • Social Work
   • Medical

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Karen R. Baker
   • Eliah Drinkwitz
   • Raner Collins
   • John Catlett
   • Ed Meador
   • Rose Clarke Nanyonga
   • Margaret Ensign Lewis
   • Bill Hardgrave
   • Gary F. Peters
   • Virginia Hudson
   • Wilson Matthews
   • Justin Frazier
3. 

   #3

   University of Arkansas at Monticello

   #2810 institution's overall influence

   Tuition + fees

   $7K

   Graduation

   18%

   Student body

   3K

   Monticello, AR

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   What is University of Arkansas at Monticello known for?

   University of Arkansas at Monticello's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Chemistry
   • Biology
   • Mathematics
   • Computer Science
   • Medical
   • History
   • Nursing
   • Engineering
   • Criminal Justice
   • Education

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Jody Dickinson
   • Brett Riley
   • Art Kaufman
   • Derick Armstrong
4. 

   #4

   University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

   #2288 institution's overall influence

   #1093 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $8K

   Acceptance

   44%

   Graduation

   23%

   Student body

   2K

   Median SAT/ACT

   965/18

   Pine Bluff, AR

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   What is University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff known for?

   University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Chemistry
   • Biology
   • Social Work
   • Criminal Justice
   • Medical
   • Education
   • Communications
   • Nursing

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Ernest J. Harris
   • Jeff Donaldson
   • Gloria Long Anderson
   • Raye Montague
   • Aundre F. Piggee
   • Tevester Anderson
   • Charlie Nelms
   • L. C. Greenwood
   • Frank Burgess
   • Dorothy McFadden Hoover
   • Carlton W. Veazey
   • Sam Kelley
5. 

   #5

   University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

   #1770 institution's overall influence

   Tuition + fees

   $8K

   Student body

   1K

   Little Rock, AR

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   What is University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences known for?

   University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Medical
   • Nursing
   • Biology
   • Political Science

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Karthik Arumugam
   • Daniel S Perrien
   • Shannon Rose
   • Shengzhou Wu
   • Sarah B. Mulkey
   • Debopam Ghosh
   • Visanu Wanchai
   • Melanie N. Smith
   • Kshitij Chatterjee
   • Seth Heldenbrand
   • Madalyn Van Valkenburg
   • Alesia C Ferguson
6. 

   #6

   Henderson State University

   #2398 institution's overall influence

   #841 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $8K

   Acceptance

   91%

   Graduation

   33%

   Student body

   3K

   Median SAT/ACT

   1054/22

   Arkadelphia, AR

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   What is Henderson State University known for?

   Henderson State University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • History
   • Psychology
   • Criminal Justice
   • Political Science
   • Sociology
   • Business
   • Literature
   • Nursing
   • Education
   • Medical

   Most Influential Alumni

   • C. Vann Woodward
   • Billy Bob Thornton
   • Richard B. Hoover
   • Gus Malzahn
   • Alfred Bryan Bonds
   • Jimmie O. Keenan
   • Phil L. Johnson
   • Jimmy D. Ross
   • Bobby Bones
   • K. D. Williams
   • John L. Kent
   • Aaron Owens
7. 

   #7

   Arkansas State University

   #1449 institution's overall influence

   #1472 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $9K

   Acceptance

   77%

   Graduation

   44%

   Student body

   13K

   Median SAT/ACT

   1113/24

   Jonesboro, AR

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   What is Arkansas State University known for?

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

   • Biology
   • Political Science
   • Nursing
   • Medical
   • Education
   • History
   • Philosophy
   • Engineering
   • Business
   • Chemistry

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Malcolm L. McCallum
   • Edward J. Steimel
   • Miller Williams
   • Tess Harper
   • Beth Holloway
   • Karen Stupples
   • James Leon Holmes
   • D. Price Marshall Jr.
   • Rodger Bumpass
   • Ron Bass
   • Lonnie D. Bentley
   • John Wood
8. 

   #8

   Southern Arkansas University

   #3251 institution's overall influence

   #1310 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $9K

   Acceptance

   69%

   Graduation

   34%

   Student body

   4K

   Median SAT/ACT

   1110/21

   Magnolia, AR

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   What is Southern Arkansas University known for?

   Southern Arkansas University's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

   • Chemistry
   • Criminal Justice
   • Political Science
   • Biology
   • Business
   • Engineering
   • Social Work
   • History
   • Education
   • Psychology

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Maxie McFarland
   • Donika Kelly
   • Horace M. Wade
9. 

   #9

   University of Central Arkansas

   #2557 institution's overall influence

   #1029 overall school desirability

   Tuition + fees

   $9K

   Acceptance

   91%

   Graduation

   42%

   Student body

   10K

   Median SAT/ACT

   1070/24

   Conway, AR

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   What is University of Central Arkansas known for?

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

   • Chemistry
   • Economics
   • Computer Science
   • Philosophy
   • Mathematics
   • Physics
   • Psychology
   • Medical
   • Education
   • Communications

   Most Influential Alumni

   • Cody Wilson
   • Arthur Hunnicutt
   • Hiroyuki Nishimura
   • Gil Gerard
   • Jimmy Driftwood
   • Brian Stacy Miller
   • Raymond Simon
   • Tab Townsell
   • Allen Meadors
   • James R. Barker
   • Natalie White
   • Bessie Boehm Moore
10. 

    #10

    Arkansas Baptist College

    #7629 institution's overall influence

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Graduation

    1%

    Student body

    <1K

    Little Rock, AR

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    What is Arkansas Baptist College known for?

    Arkansas Baptist College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Religious Studies
    • Education
11. 

    #11

    University of Arkansas

    #458 institution's overall influence

    #1356 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    77%

    Graduation

    64%

    Student body

    24K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1195/26

    Fayetteville, AR

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    What is University of Arkansas known for?

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

    • Economics
    • Philosophy
    • Law
    • History
    • Engineering
    • Business
    • Social Work
    • Chemistry
    • Political Science
    • Criminal Justice

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Edward Durell Stone
    • Kevin Carson
    • Scotty Robertson
    • Bud Cummins
    • Michalis Dertouzos
    • James O. McKinsey
    • S. Robson Walton
    • Eric Hinske
    • Charles King
    • John Shirley Wood
    • William Ray Forrester
    • John A. White
12. 

    #12

    University of Arkansas at Little Rock

    #1613 institution's overall influence

    #1043 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $9K

    Acceptance

    79%

    Graduation

    28%

    Student body

    8K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1070/21

    Little Rock, AR

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    What is University of Arkansas at Little Rock known for?

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

    • Law
    • Anthropology
    • Computer Science
    • Political Science
    • Medical
    • Chemistry
    • Engineering
    • Business
    • Communications
    • Biology

    Most Influential Alumni

    • Dick Powell
    • Dona Bailey
    • Wesley Pruden
    • Bob Stokes
    • Beth Holloway
    • James E. Cofer
    • Karen Aston
    • Kevin Kouzmanoff
    • Andrew Westmoreland
    • Rhonda K. Wood
    • Hershel Friday
    • Annabelle Clinton Imber
13. 

    #13

    Philander Smith College

    #3457 institution's overall influence

    Tuition + fees

    $13K

    Graduation

    40%

    Student body

    <1K

    Little Rock, AR

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    What is Philander Smith College known for?

    Philander Smith College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Psychology
    • Mathematics
    • Philosophy
    • Sociology
    • Education
    • Social Work
    • Criminal Justice
    • Biology

    Most Influential Alumni

    • James Hal Cone
    • L. Clifford Davis
    • Robert Williams
    • Deon Cole
    • Al Bell
    • Henry Clay Yerger
    • Petrella Ann Bonner
    • Ida B. Kinney
    • Marjorie Jenkins Gibson
    • Calvin King
14. 

    #14

    Crowley's Ridge College

    #10216 institution's overall influence

    Tuition + fees

    $14K

    Graduation

    44%

    Student body

    <1K

    Paragould, AR

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    What is Crowley's Ridge College known for?

    Crowley's Ridge College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Religious Studies
    • Education
15. 

    #15

    Ecclesia College

    #8533 institution's overall influence

    #752 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $15K

    Acceptance

    70%

    Graduation

    11%

    Student body

    <1K

    Springdale, AR

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    What is Ecclesia College known for?

    Ecclesia College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Communications
    • Business
16. 

    #16

    Central Baptist College

    #14917 institution's overall influence

    #182 overall school desirability

    Tuition + fees

    $16K

    Acceptance

    61%

    Graduation

    31%

    Student body

    <1K

    Median SAT/ACT

    955/19

    Conway, AR

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    What is Central Baptist College known for?

    Central Baptist College's faculty and alumni have been influential in:

    • Business
    • Education

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