Best Online Master’s Programs in Arkansas 2024

Badge for BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN ARKANSAS

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Academic Influence Staff

Published: May 11, 2022
Updated: Dec 5, 2023

Find the best online colleges in Arkansas ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs. Faculty and alumni with influential ideas are the foundation of respectable online degree programs employers can trust.

University of Arkansas
Arkansas State University
University of Central Arkansas
Henderson State University
Arkansas Tech University
Southern Arkansas University

Arkansas Tech University 94%
University of Central Arkansas 91%
University of Arkansas 79%
Henderson State University 71%
Arkansas State University 70%
Southern Arkansas University 64%

University of Arkansas 20 to 1
Arkansas Tech University 18 to 1
Henderson State University 16 to 1
Arkansas State University 15 to 1
Southern Arkansas University 15 to 1
University of Central Arkansas 14 to 1

University of Arkansas $7,666
Southern Arkansas University $7,020
University of Central Arkansas $6,950
Arkansas State University $6,888
Henderson State University $5,880
Arkansas Tech University $5,820

University of Arkansas $7,875
Arkansas State University $6,282
Henderson State University $5,670
Arkansas Tech University $5,481
Southern Arkansas University $5,472
University of Central Arkansas $5,133

Southern Arkansas University
Henderson State University
Arkansas Tech University
University of Central Arkansas
Arkansas State University
University of Arkansas

Southern Arkansas University
Arkansas Tech University
Henderson State University
University of Central Arkansas
Arkansas State University
University of Arkansas

Southern Arkansas University 64%
Arkansas State University 70%
Henderson State University 71%
University of Arkansas 79%
University of Central Arkansas 91%
Arkansas Tech University 94%

University of Central Arkansas 14 to 1
Arkansas State University 15 to 1
Southern Arkansas University 15 to 1
Henderson State University 16 to 1
Arkansas Tech University 18 to 1
University of Arkansas 20 to 1

Arkansas Tech University $5,820
Henderson State University $5,880
Arkansas State University $6,888
University of Central Arkansas $6,950
Southern Arkansas University $7,020
University of Arkansas $7,666

University of Central Arkansas $5,133
Southern Arkansas University $5,472
Arkansas Tech University $5,481
Henderson State University $5,670
Arkansas State University $6,282
University of Arkansas $7,875

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

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

Online master’s degrees offered by respected colleges and universities are generally respected by employers. The main thing to consider about your online master’s choices is whether the school name is well known and respected. In many cases, employers won’t know your degree was earned online. But even if they do, a degree from a respected college is automatically to your benefit.

We rank the colleges and universities in this list by the influence of their alumni and faculty. For master’s degree students, including online master’s degree students, having faculty who are influential in your field matters a lot. It’s a big indicator that you have the chance to get a quality education. And, knowing that you will join an alumni association with some impressive people is nice, too.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees

An online master’s degree costs about $40,000 for the average grad student. However, the cost of your online master’s degree will depend on the type of grad school you attend. In 2018-2019, the average cost for a year of tuition in a public grad school was $12,171. The average cost for a year of tuition in private, non-profit grad school was $27,776. An online master’s degree will usually cost about the same as a traditional master’s degree. Some schools will charge 5-10% more for online courses. This added cost pays for the technology and specialized training needed for online instruction. But getting a master’s degree online can also help you save money. The costs above don’t include expenses like housing, transportation, or certain campus fees. As an online grad student, you can save a lot of money by avoiding these added expenses. Many online master’s degree programs are also accelerated. Most master’s degree programs are designed to be completed in two years. But you may be able to earn your online master’s degree in as little as 12-18 months. Earning an accelerated online master’s degree can save you money on tuition.

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

How do we determine Arkansas's best online master's degree programs?

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.

Best Online Master’s Program 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
Other Rankings
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: $12,160
Expenses: $20,260
Starting Salary: $52,700
Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master’s Degrees
MS in Construction Management

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MS in Operations Analytics

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MS in Operations Management

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MEd in Human Resource and Workforce Development

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Required Credits: 38
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MIS in Information Systems

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 21 months
Format: Online
MEd in Educational Technology

Required Credits: 31
Completion time: 1.5 years
Format: Online
MEd in Adult and Lifelong Learning

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MEd in Community College Leadership

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MEd in Educational Equity

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MEd in Educational Leadership

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MEd in Physical Education

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MEd in Teaching English To Speakers of Other Languages

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MEd in Special Education

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MS in Human Environmental Sciences

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MSN in Nursing

Required Credits: 39
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MBA in Healthcare Executive

Required Credits: 44
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
ML in Agriculture and Food Law

Required Credits: 24
Completion time: 1 year
Format: Online
MS in Electrical Engineering

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MS in Engineering

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MS in Engineering Management

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MS in Food Safety

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 3 years
Format: Online
MS in Agricultural and Extension Education

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#2
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
Other Rankings
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: $6,980
Expenses: $18,472
Starting Salary: $36,600
Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master’s Degrees
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Concentrations

Supply Chain Management
Finance

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Sport Administration

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 1 year
Format: Online
MS in Disaster Preparedness/Emergency Management

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSE in Early Childhood Education

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Early Childhood Services

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSE in Educational Leadership

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Educational Theory

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSE in Reading

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSE in Special Education, Gifted, Talented and Creative

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSE in Curriculum and Instruction

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSE in Special Education Instructional Specialist K-12

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 16 months
Format: Online
MAT in Teaching

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 12-16 months
Format: Online
MSE in School Counseling

Concentrations

Crisis and Trauma
Special Populations

Required Credits: 48
Completion time: 26-32 months
Format: Online
MS in Media Management

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Strategic Communication

Concentrations

Tech Law and Policy

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 10 months
Format: Online
MPA in Public Administration

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEM in Engineering Management

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#3
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 #4 Best Research Universities in Arkansas 2024
Other Rankings
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: $7,162
Expenses: $15,339
Starting Salary: $42,500
Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master’s Degrees
MA in Sport Management

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Concentrations

Finance
Information Management
International Business
Healthcare Administration

Required Credits: 42
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSE in Advanced Studies of Teacher Leadership

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Instructional Technology

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSE in Special Education

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MAT in Special Education

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MAT in Teaching

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in School Leadership, Management and Administration

Required Credits: 42
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Family and Consumer Science

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MGIS in Geographic Information Systems

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Library Media and Information Technologies

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Nutrition

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSN in Nursing

Required Credits: 31
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Promotion

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#4
Arkansas Tech University
Russellville , AR
#5 Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #5 Best Public Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #7 Best Grad Schools in Arkansas 2025 #8 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Arkansas 2025
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
49%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1085/20
Career Outlook for degree at Arkansas Tech University
Cost of Degree: $7,546
Expenses: $15,186
Starting Salary: $38,600
Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master’s Degrees
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Emergency Management and Homeland Security

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Educational Leadership

Required Credits: 34
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in K-12 Literacy

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Special Education K-12

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Student Affairs Administration

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Informatics

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSN in Nursing Administration and Emergency Management

Required Credits: 39
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#5
Henderson State University
Arkadelphia , AR
#3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Arkansas 2025 #4 Best Small Colleges in Arkansas 2025 #6 Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #6 Best Public Colleges in Arkansas 2024
Other Rankings
- #8 Best Colleges in Arkansas 2024
- #6 Best Online MBA Programs in Arkansas
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
39%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
988/18
Career Outlook for degree at Henderson State University
Cost of Degree: $6,903
Expenses: $20,956
Starting Salary: $40,400
Cost Recoup Time: 8 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master’s Degrees
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Concentrations

Accounting
Aviation Management
Data Science
Engineering Management
Management

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Sport Administration

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Development Therapy

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MAT in Teaching

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Education

Concentrations

Special Education

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSE in Educational Leadership

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Special Education

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MAT in Teaching

Concentrations

Special Education

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#6
Southern Arkansas University
Magnolia , AR
#6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Arkansas 2025 #7 Best Small Colleges in Arkansas 2025 #8 Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas 2024 #8 Best Public Colleges in Arkansas 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
45%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
1047/20
Career Outlook for degree at Southern Arkansas University
Cost of Degree: $7,236
Expenses: $15,820
Starting Salary: $39,000
Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master’s Degrees
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Concentrations

Agri-Business
Supply Chain Management
Social Entrepreneurship

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MCIS in Computer Information Science

Concentrations

Cybersecurity and Privacy
Data Science
Information Technology

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MEd in Educational Leadership in Administration and Supervision

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MEd in Special Education

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MAT in Teaching

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 1-2 years
Format: Online
MPA in Public Administration

Concentrations

Social Entrepreneurship

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MS in Kinesiology

Concentrations

Coaching

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MEd in College Counseling and Student Affairs

Required Credits: 51
Completion time: 3 years
Format: Online
MS in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling

Required Credits: 60
Completion time: 3.5-4 years
Format: Online
MS in Agriculture

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
Compare school

Arkansas’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest

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

Best Online Master’s Programs in Arkansas 2024

Top Online Master's Programs in Arkansas

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Arkansas

What are Arkansas’s Colleges & Universities?

Arkansas’s Best Overall

Best Online Master’s Program in Arkansas 2023

University of Arkansas

Career Outlook for degree at University of Arkansas

Online Master’s Degrees

Arkansas State University

Career Outlook for degree at Arkansas State University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

University of Central Arkansas

Career Outlook for degree at University of Central Arkansas

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Arkansas Tech University

Career Outlook for degree at Arkansas Tech University

Online Master’s Degrees

Henderson State University

Career Outlook for degree at Henderson State University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Southern Arkansas University

Career Outlook for degree at Southern Arkansas University

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Arkansas’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest