Rankings / By State
Best Psychology Colleges in Arkansas
- 14
- Schools
- $46,922
- Avg. Earnings
- 52%
- Avg. Graduation
- $17,962
- Avg. Net Price
- $22,337
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $35,550 at the low end to $60,376 at the top. That 1.7× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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Central Baptist College offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $46,789 against $12,287 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
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Cost and quality are not at odds here. The most affordable school, Central Baptist College at $12,287 a year in net price, delivers earnings of $46,789, matching or exceeding the list average.
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Completion rates separate this field: Hendrix College graduates 71% of its students, well above the 52% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor University of Arkansas: graduates owe only 0.37× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- The top spot belongs to John Brown University ($53,907 earnings), not the highest earner, Hendrix College ($60,376). That is what weighting mobility and value over salary alone produces.
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. Central Baptist College ($12,287/yr) and Hendrix College ($24,149/yr) produce graduates earning $46,789 and $60,376 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $11,862 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, Central Baptist College outperforms Hendrix College: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
The Takeaway
A consistent pattern: the schools that finish at the top get there by delivering strong earnings, manageable debt, and real mobility rather than by charging more or rejecting more applicants. Those outcomes are what define educational value.
What This Means for Students
For students evaluating these schools, begin with Central Baptist College and Hendrix College. Look past sticker price: pull each school's net price for your income level, compare it against projected earnings, and let the data guide the decision instead of the brand.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $46K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 John Brown University #1 overall | $53,907 ▲ +15% vs avg | $20,397 | 69% | 73 |
| 2 University of the Ozarks #2 overall | $44,384 ▼ -5% vs avg | $17,360 | 52% | 73 |
| 3 Hendrix College #3 overall | $60,376 ▲ +29% vs avg | $24,149 | 71% | 69 |
| $38,484 ▼ -18% vs avg | $15,745 | 31% | 66 | |
| $38,427 ▼ -18% vs avg | $14,224 | 31% | 65 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Psychology Colleges in Arkansas
This analysis ranks 14 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $46,922 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 52% and an average net price of $17,962.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Central Baptist College — Net Price: $12,287 | Graduation Rate: 35%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Hendrix College — 71% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Hendrix College — Median alumni earnings: $60,376
Our Analysis Found
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Human Services Workforce Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the human-services and social-work workforce?
$45,161
Median earnings (10yr)
53%
Median graduation rate
$17,785
Median net price
1.8%
Avg. mobility rate
Demand for mental-health and social-service professionals keeps rising, driven by greater awareness of mental-health needs, an aging population, and expanding access to services. These are licensure-gated, mission-driven careers. The social return is high and the financial return is capped, which makes program cost the most important variable in the value equation.
Start with the medians across these 14 schools. Graduates earn a median of $45,161 ten years after enrollment. The median graduation rate is 53%, and the typical net price (what students pay after grants) runs $17,785 a year with about $21,500 in federal debt. Pell grants reach 39% of students on average, and the average mobility rate, the share of students lifted from the bottom income quintile to the top, is 1.8%.
In human services, the cost of the degree matters as much as the career that follows it. Median earnings of roughly $45,161 and a net price of about $17,785 leave little room for heavy borrowing. Graduates who keep debt minimal do best in a field where the rewards are primarily social rather than financial.
The podium
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Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
John Brown University lands at #1 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $53,907 a decade after enrolling, 15% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,397 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
University of the Ozarks lands at #2 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $44,384 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,360 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Hendrix College lands at #3 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (51/100). Graduates earn a median $60,376 a decade after enrolling, 29% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,149 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Williams Baptist University lands at #4 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (57/100). Graduates earn a median $38,484 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,745 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Philander Smith University lands at #5 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (54/100). Graduates earn a median $38,427 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,224 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Central Baptist College lands at #6 with a 64/100 composite, led by value per dollar (63/100) and pulled down by academic quality (48/100). Graduates earn a median $46,789 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $12,287 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Arkansas State University lands at #7 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (60/100). Graduates earn a median $42,617 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,366 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
University of Central Arkansas lands at #8 with a 63/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (60/100). Graduates earn a median $45,938 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,511 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
University of Arkansas lands at #9 with a 63/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (59/100). Graduates earn a median $58,191 a decade after enrolling, 24% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,209 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Ouachita Baptist University lands at #10 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $51,673 a decade after enrolling, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,409 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Lyon College lands at #11 with a 61/100 composite, led by academic quality (70/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (51/100). Graduates earn a median $44,232 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,616 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Harding University lands at #12 with a 60/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (53/100). Graduates earn a median $52,876 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,130 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Pine Bluff, AR · 41% accepted · $12,653 net
Why it ranks #13
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff lands at #13 with a 58/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (52/100). Graduates earn a median $35,550 a decade after enrolling, 24% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,653 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Henderson State University lands at #14 with a 56/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $43,459 a decade after enrolling, 7% below this list's average, and net price runs $23,405 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 14 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
Choosing the right psychology program in Arkansas can be a pivotal decision for students and families. With 15 schools offering unique opportunities, it's essential to consider which programs lead to strong outcomes in areas like earnings and graduation rates. On average, psychology graduates in the state earn $47,267 shortly after finishing their degrees.
What sets the top schools apart is not just their program offerings but their results. Factors like earnings potential, graduation rates, and student debt weigh heavily in this decision-making process. The schools listed below reflect a balance of these outcomes, allowing prospective students to make informed choices based on what matters most to them.
For example, John Brown University graduates earn an average of $53,907, while Arkansas State University graduates earn significantly less at $42,617. However, Arkansas State has a lower net price, which could appeal to students concerned about debt. These differences highlight the trade-offs students must consider as they navigate their options.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 12 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.8%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff leads the group at 2.8%, with Henderson State University (2.4%) and Arkansas State University (2.4%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 13.8% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Philander Smith University enrolls the most, at 35.3%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 16.4% across the list, peaking at 32.6% at University of Arkansas.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.41, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Hendrix College is highest at 1.70.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
When comparing schools like Hendrix College and Central Baptist College, the differences in graduation rates and earnings stand out. Hendrix boasts a 71% graduation rate and an average earning of $60,376, while Central Baptist College's graduation rate sits at just 35%, with graduates earning $46,789. This disparity suggests that students at Hendrix may be better positioned for post-graduation success.
As you sift through these options, think about how each school's strengths align with your personal priorities. Consider location, program fit, campus culture, and financial implications alongside the numbers. For instance, if minimizing debt is crucial for you, Central Baptist’s lower net price might be appealing, despite its lower graduation rate. Find a balance that reflects your values and aspirations.
This data illustrates the crucial role of college choice in shaping future stability. A degree in psychology can open doors to various careers, but outcomes vary significantly by school. One student's decision could lead to a fulfilling career or a struggle with debt. It's essential to weigh these factors carefully, as the right choice today can shape your path for years to come.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Psychology Colleges in Arkansas: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Psychology Colleges in Arkansas ranking? +
John Brown University in Siloam Springs, AR ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Psychology Colleges in Arkansas ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $53,907 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 69% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Hendrix College posts the highest median earnings on this list: $60,376 ten years after enrollment, well above the $46,922 average across the 14 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Central Baptist College leads: graduates earn a median $46,789 against net price of about $12,287 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Hendrix College has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 71%, compared with a 52% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $17,962 a year across the 14 ranked schools with cost data. Central Baptist College is among the most affordable at roughly $12,287. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Psychology Colleges in Arkansas ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 14 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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