Arkansas Tech University
#4 Best Master's Programs in Arkansas- Graduation Rate
- 49% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $41,766 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $12,970 B-
- 24% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 96% F
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 18.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.1 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Master's Programs in Arkansas.
Every $1 spent returns $18.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $888,576.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Social mobility rate of 2.12% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
-
Every $1 invested returns $18.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.3%
- Top 69%
- Patents
- 13
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 21
- Downstream influence
Why Arkansas Tech University Matters
Arkansas Tech University is a public university in Russellville, AR and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 5,388
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Arkansas Tech University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 96% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 880–1100. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,970 a year after grants and scholarships — 24% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $41,766 ten years after enrolling — 2% above the typical college, against $21,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 25% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.18 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Arkansas Tech University has an acceptance rate of 96%, making it highly accessible for students. With an enrollment of 5,388, it offers a welcoming community for those seeking higher education in a variety of fields. The university emphasizes programs in Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, and Mechanic & Repair Tech.
Graduates from Arkansas Tech University earn a median salary of $41,766 ten years after entering the workforce. While the graduation rate sits at 49%, the university attracts a diverse student body, including 34% of students who receive Pell Grants. This indicates a commitment to supporting students from lower-income backgrounds, although mobility data is not available to measure long-term economic advancement for graduates.
The net price for attending Arkansas Tech is $12,970, with a median student debt of $21,000 upon graduation. Students who thrive here typically seek a practical education with career-oriented programs and appreciate the affordability of a public university. The supportive environment and variety of programs make it a suitable choice for those looking to enter the job market with a solid foundation.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Arkansas Tech University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Arkansas Tech University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Russellville, Arkansas, Arkansas Tech University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 96%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,049. The graduation rate is roughly 49%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Retention Rate
- 74%
- SAT Average
- 1049
- SAT Range
- 880–1100
- ACT Range
- 17–23
- Full-Time Faculty
- 99%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,047
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.47
- First-Gen Students
- 46%
- Applicants
- 5,762
- Admitted
- 5,439
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Arkansas Tech University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Arkansas Tech University is $14,668, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,970. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,426 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,674
- Out-of-State
- $14,668
- Avg Net Price
- $12,970
- Median Debt
- $21,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 34%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 26%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,426
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,165
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,130
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,543
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Arkansas Tech University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Arkansas Tech University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Arkansas Tech University report median earnings of $41,766, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $37,638
- 8 Years
- $40,016
- 10 Years
- $41,766
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.5x
- Earning > $25K
- 56%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (437)
- 27%
- 100% (437)
- 27%
- 100% (437)
- 27%
- 100% (437)
- 27%
How Arkansas Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Arkansas Tech University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Arkansas Tech University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,970/year ($51,880 total). Graduates earn $41,766 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $940,456 in total earnings — a net gain of $888,576 (18.1× your investment). The median debt is $21,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 49% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $51,880
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $940,456
- Net Return
- $888,576
- ROI Multiple
- 18.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,970
- Median Debt
- $21,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 49%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Arkansas Tech University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Arkansas Tech University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.12%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 15.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $63,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.12%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 15.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $85,867
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Arkansas Tech University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 13 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.26%
- Top 69% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 13
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 21
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,915,199
Top Programs
The fields Arkansas Tech University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 21% $18,479 early-career
- Business & Marketing 21% $52,040 early-career
- Health Professions 21% $68,862 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $61,913 early-career
- Criminal Justice 4% $43,569 early-career
- Mathematics & Statistics 3% $37,630 early-career
- Psychology 3% $29,149 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Arkansas Tech University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Arkansas Tech University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Russellville, Arkansas, Arkansas Tech University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 96%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,049. The graduation rate is roughly 49%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Arkansas Tech University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Arkansas Tech University is $14,668, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,970. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,426 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,000 in federal student loans.
Is Arkansas Tech University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Arkansas Tech University report median earnings of $41,766, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Arkansas Tech University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Arkansas Tech University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.12%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 15.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $63,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Arkansas Tech University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Arkansas Tech University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.18, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Arkansas Tech University.
- California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtArcata, CA · Close peer48% grad $47,626 earn 98% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Columbus State UniversityColumbus, GA · Close peer42% grad $44,544 earn 99% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Northwestern State University of LouisianaNatchitoches, LA · Close peer44% grad $47,021 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of North Carolina at PembrokePembroke, NC · Close peer44% grad $43,407 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of the CumberlandsWilliamsburg, KY · Close peer48% grad $45,036 earn 99% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Nicholls State UniversityThibodaux, LA · Close peer54% grad $45,454 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Arkansas Tech University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Arkansas Tech University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.18, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note