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Best Value Bachelor's Degree Schools in Arkansas

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2023 Best Value Bachelor's Degree Schools in Arkansas

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Prices

13 Schools Ranked
$18,307 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$24,753 Avg Student Debt*

Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Best Value Bachelor's Degree Schools in Arkansas to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 13 schools in Arkansas to see which ones offered the best value bachelor's degree programs for students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

Top Value Bachelor's Degree Schools in Arkansas

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

#1

University of Arkansas - Fort Smith

Fort Smith, Arkansas
740 Total Awards
$13,026 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named University of Arkansas - Fort Smith the best value school in Arkansas for students working on their bachelor’s degree. University of Arkansas - Fort Smith is a medium-sized public school located in Fort Smith, Arkansas that handed out 740 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UAFS undergraduate students pay an average of $13,026 in tuition and fees each year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $20,904 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

UAFS does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 82% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Read More…

#2

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, Arkansas
5,593 Total Awards
$26,390 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Arkansas. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Arkansas list. Located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, the large public school awarded 5,593 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UARK are $26,390 a year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $22,930 in loans while pursuing their degree.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UARK. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 99% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

UARK also took the #1 spot in our Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Arkansas rankings.

Read full report on University of Arkansas

1,815 Total Awards
$12,698 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Arkansas State University - Main Campus is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. This fairly large public school is located in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and it awarded 1,815 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

A-State undergraduate students pay an average of $12,698 in tuition and fees each year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $24,437 in loans while pursuing their degree.

One thing to take note of is that A-State does offer online classes in some areas. In 2019-2020 about 71% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read full report on Arkansas State University - Main Campus

#4

Henderson State University

Arkadelphia, Arkansas
514 Total Awards
$9,768 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Henderson State University. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Arkansas list. Located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, the small public school awarded 514 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Henderson State University undergraduate students pay an average of $9,768 in tuition and fees each year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $23,312 in loans while pursuing their degree.

Henderson State University does offer online classes for certain degree levels. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 90% took at least some of their classes online.

Read full report on Henderson State University

#5

University of Central Arkansas

Conway, Arkansas
1,933 Total Awards
$16,433 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of Central Arkansas is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree who want the most bang for their educational buck. Conway, Arkansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,933 students in 2020-2021.

UCA undergraduate students pay an average of $16,433 in tuition and fees each year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $23,394 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

UCA does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 78% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

UCA also made our Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Arkansas list, coming in at #5.

Read More…

#6

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Little Rock, Arkansas
1,365 Total Awards
$21,767 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Arkansas at Little Rock ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Arkansas list. UA Little Rock is a medium-sized public school situated in Little Rock, Arkansas. It awarded 1,365 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UA Little Rock undergraduate students pay an average of $21,767 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $29,894 in student loans.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UA Little Rock does offer online classes for certain majors. Of all the undergraduates enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 87% took at least some of their classes online.

Read More…

#7

Arkansas Tech University

Russellville, Arkansas
1,276 Total Awards
$13,636 Average Tuition & Fees

Arkansas Tech University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Arkansas ranking. Arkansas Tech University is a medium-sized public school located in Russellville, Arkansas that handed out 1,276 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at ATU are $13,636 a year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $23,337 in student loans.

Some students may be able to take online classes at ATU. In 2019-2020 about 78% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Full Arkansas Tech University Report

#8

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Pine Bluff, Arkansas
364 Total Awards
$14,574 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Arkansas ranking. This small public school is located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and it awarded 364 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UAPB undergraduate students pay an average of $14,574 in tuition and fees each year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $27,786 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since UAPB does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2019-2020 about 88% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.

Read More…

#9

University of Arkansas at Monticello

Monticello, Arkansas
353 Total Awards
$13,879 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, University of Arkansas at Monticello did quite well on this year’s best value schools for students working on their bachelor’s degree. University of Arkansas at Monticello is a small public school located in Monticello, Arkansas that handed out 353 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at UAM are $13,879 a year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $22,129 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at UAM. In fact, around 52% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.

Read More…

559 Total Awards
$14,530 Average Tuition & Fees

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Arkansas ranking. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a public institution located in Magnolia, Arkansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 559 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus are $14,530 a year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,394 in student loans.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Southern Arkansas University Main Campus does offer online classes for certain majors. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 83% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Read More…

#11

Harding University

Searcy, Arkansas
902 Total Awards
$22,230 Average Tuition & Fees

Harding University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Arkansas ranking. Searcy, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 902 students in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Harding are $22,230 a year. By the time they get their bachelor’s degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,606 in student loans.

If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Harding does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2019-2020 year, about 21% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

Harding not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #2 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Arkansas list.

Full Harding University Report

#12

John Brown University

Siloam Springs, Arkansas
383 Total Awards
$28,924 Average Tuition & Fees

John Brown University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Arkansas list. JBU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. It awarded 383 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at JBU are $28,924 a year. Bachelor’s Degree recipients from this school accumulate an average of $26,466 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.

JBU does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2019-2020 year, about 32% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.

JBU also took the #3 spot in our Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Arkansas rankings.

Read full report on John Brown University

#13

Ouachita Baptist University

Arkadelphia, Arkansas
446 Total Awards
$30,140 Average Tuition & Fees

Ouachita Baptist University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 446 bachelor’s degree awards in 2020-2021.

Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Ouachita Baptist are $30,140 per year. On average, bachelor’s degree students take out $19,463 in loans while pursuing their degree.

You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Ouachita Baptist. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 12% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.

Ouachita Baptist did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Arkansas list.

Full Ouachita Baptist University Report

View Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Schools Nationwide >

Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 13 schools only.

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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