# Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 43 | Category: By State (Affordable)
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-arkansas

## Methodology

Ranked by lowest net price in Arkansas

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Finding an affordable college in Arkansas can be a daunting task, especially with rising tuition costs. This list highlights schools that offer the lowest net prices, making higher education more accessible for students. With a net price averaging just over $5,000, these institutions provide options that could significantly ease the financial burden of attending college.

The schools on this list stand out not only for their affordability but also for the outcomes they deliver. Key metrics such as graduate rates, average earnings, and debt levels reveal the broader picture of what students can expect after graduation. For instance, while many schools may have low tuition, the real value lies in their ability to help students secure good jobs and graduate on time.

Take Ozarka College and NorthWest Arkansas Community College as examples. Ozarka College has a low net price of $4,543 and a graduation rate of 45%, leading to average earnings of $29,314. In contrast, NorthWest Arkansas Community College, while featuring a higher earning potential at $43,505, also has a significant net price of $7,196 and a lower graduation rate of only 29%. This contrast highlights the trade-offs students must consider when evaluating their options.

## Key Findings

- Ozarka College has a low net price of $4,543 and average earnings of $29,314.
- NorthWest Arkansas Community College shows higher earnings at $43,505 but comes with a net price of $7,196.
- The average graduation rate across these schools is 47%, indicating varied student success.
- Students can expect an average debt of around $9,200 upon graduation.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Black River Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/black-river-technical-college) | Pocahontas, AR | 43% | $34,818 | $5,095 | $9,500 | 0.27x |
| 2 | [Ozarka College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ozarka-college) | Melbourne, AR | 45% | $29,314 | $4,543 | $9,818 | 0.33x |
| 3 | [East Arkansas Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/east-arkansas-community-college) | Forrest City, AR | 49% | $28,471 | $7,220 | $6,000 | 0.21x |
| 4 | [University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-arkansas-community-college-rich-mountain) | Mena, AR | 58% | $30,037 | $4,842 | $6,500 | 0.22x |
| 5 | [NorthWest Arkansas Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwest-arkansas-community-college) | Bentonville, AR | 29% | $43,505 | $7,196 | $9,506 | 0.22x |
| 6 | [Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/phillips-community-college-of-the-university-of-arkansas) | Helena, AR | 53% | $29,552 | $4,848 | N/A | N/A |
| 7 | [Arkansas Northeastern College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/arkansas-northeastern-college) | Blytheville, AR | 34% | $33,169 | $5,375 | N/A | N/A |
| 8 | [University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-arkansas-community-college-morrilton) | Morrilton, AR | 44% | $34,924 | $8,725 | $10,315 | 0.3x |
| 9 | [Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cossatot-community-college-of-the-university-of-arkansas) | De Queen, AR | 51% | $33,775 | $4,385 | N/A | N/A |
| 10 | [South Arkansas College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/south-arkansas-college) | El Dorado, AR | 28% | $34,521 | $7,486 | $11,153 | 0.32x |
| 11 | [University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-arkansas-community-college-batesville) | Batesville, AR | 60% | $33,706 | $8,044 | $10,250 | 0.3x |
| 12 | [Arkansas State University Three Rivers](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/arkansas-state-university-three-rivers) | Malvern, AR | 30% | $37,374 | $8,070 | $10,250 | 0.27x |
| 13 | [Southern Arkansas University Tech](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-arkansas-university-tech) | Camden, AR | 62% | $36,376 | $9,018 | $6,000 | 0.16x |
| 14 | [Arkansas State University-Newport](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/arkansas-state-university-newport) | Newport, AR | 44% | $41,524 | $8,444 | $8,002 | 0.19x |
| 15 | [University of Arkansas-Fort Smith](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-arkansas-fort-smith) | Fort Smith, AR | 37% | $41,102 | $10,574 | $18,250 | 0.44x |
| 16 | [University of Arkansas Grantham](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-arkansas-grantham) | LIttle Rock, AR | 32% | $63,496 | $8,370 | $21,956 | 0.35x |
| 17 | [Arkansas State University Mid-South](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/arkansas-state-university-mid-south) | West Memphis, AR | 54% | $31,857 | $5,427 | N/A | N/A |
| 18 | [North Arkansas College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-arkansas-college) | Harrison, AR | 36% | $34,653 | $10,180 | $9,000 | 0.26x |
| 19 | [Arkansas State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/arkansas-state-university) | Jonesboro, AR | 55% | $42,617 | $12,366 | $20,500 | 0.48x |
| 20 | [University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-arkansas-at-pine-bluff) | Pine Bluff, AR | 40% | $35,550 | $12,653 | $24,202 | 0.68x |
| 21 | [Arkansas Tech University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/arkansas-tech-university) | Russellville, AR | 49% | $41,766 | $12,970 | $21,000 | 0.5x |
| 22 | [Arkansas State University-Mountain Home](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/arkansas-state-university-mountain-home) | Mountain Home, AR | 47% | $34,238 | $8,847 | $10,500 | 0.31x |
| 23 | [Central Baptist College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-baptist-college) | Conway, AR | 35% | $46,789 | $12,287 | $22,250 | 0.48x |
| 24 | [University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-arkansas-hope-texarkana) | Hope, AR | 53% | $34,162 | $9,270 | N/A | N/A |
| 25 | [Arkansas State University-Beebe](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/arkansas-state-university-beebe) | Beebe, AR | 40% | $36,603 | $11,698 | $8,093 | 0.22x |
| 26 | [Southern Arkansas University Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-arkansas-university-main-campus) | Magnolia, AR | 48% | $42,386 | $14,027 | $18,750 | 0.44x |
| 27 | [National Park College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/national-park-college) | Hot Springs, AR | 36% | $32,444 | $12,720 | $10,500 | 0.32x |
| 28 | [Williams Baptist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/williams-baptist-university) | Walnut Ridge, AR | 31% | $38,484 | $15,745 | $21,820 | 0.57x |
| 29 | [University of Arkansas at Monticello](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-arkansas-at-monticello) | Monticello, AR | 46% | $36,902 | $14,287 | $19,971 | 0.54x |
| 30 | [Philander Smith University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/philander-smith-university) | Little Rock, AR | 31% | $38,427 | $14,224 | $24,736 | 0.64x |
| 31 | [University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-arkansas-pulaski-technical-college) | North Little Rock, AR | 34% | $34,722 | $14,327 | $12,080 | 0.35x |
| 32 | [University of Central Arkansas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-central-arkansas) | Conway, AR | 53% | $45,938 | $16,511 | $20,346 | 0.44x |
| 33 | [University of Arkansas at Little Rock](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-arkansas-at-little-rock) | Little Rock, AR | 42% | $45,265 | $17,248 | $22,000 | 0.49x |
| 34 | [University of the Ozarks](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-the-ozarks) | Clarksville, AR | 52% | $44,384 | $17,360 | $20,875 | 0.47x |
| 35 | [University of Arkansas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-arkansas) | Fayetteville, AR | 70% | $58,191 | $18,209 | $21,500 | 0.37x |
| 36 | [Lyon College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lyon-college) | Batesville, AR | 51% | $44,232 | $19,616 | $21,500 | 0.49x |
| 37 | [John Brown University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/john-brown-university) | Siloam Springs, AR | 69% | $53,907 | $20,397 | $21,250 | 0.39x |
| 38 | [Southeast Arkansas College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southeast-arkansas-college) | Pine Bluff, AR | 22% | $33,603 | $19,038 | $8,600 | 0.26x |
| 39 | [Northwest Technical Institute](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northwest-technical-institute) | Springdale, AR | 73% | $41,513 | $15,992 | N/A | N/A |
| 40 | [Harding University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/harding-university) | Searcy, AR | 70% | $52,876 | $22,130 | $26,500 | 0.5x |
| 41 | [Ouachita Baptist University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ouachita-baptist-university) | Arkadelphia, AR | 66% | $51,673 | $22,409 | $21,050 | 0.41x |
| 42 | [Henderson State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/henderson-state-university) | Arkadelphia, AR | 38% | $43,459 | $23,405 | $19,500 | 0.45x |
| 43 | [Hendrix College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hendrix-college) | Conway, AR | 71% | $60,376 | $24,149 | $26,688 | 0.44x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-arkansas

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.