2026 Best Graduate Degrees Schools in Arkansas
Looking for the best Graduate Degrees degree programs in Arkansas? We have ranked 80 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree reviewed 66 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Arkansas
Explore the leading schools below:
No school ranked higher than Harding University this year in Arkansas. Based in Searcy, AR, Harding University is a private not-for-profit institution. Harding University graduates 69% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $25,962. Graduates carry a median of $26,715 in student loans. Get the full Harding University report
A rank of #2 makes John Brown University one of the top choices in Arkansas. Located in Siloam Springs, AR, John Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,756. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $25,216. See the full John Brown University profile
You'll be in good company at University Of Arkansas, which ranked #3 this year. University Of Arkansas is a public school based in Fayetteville, AR. About 70% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. University Of Arkansas Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $24,019 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas
University Of Central Arkansas came in at #4 on this year's Graduate Degrees ranking in Arkansas. Based in Conway, AR, University Of Central Arkansas is a public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,523, while out-of-state students pay about $18,023. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $22,920. More on University Of Central Arkansas
The strong Graduate Degrees programs at Arkansas State University Main Campus earned it the #5 place in Arkansas. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a public school based in Jonesboro, AR. Arkansas State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,090, compared with $14,522 for out-of-state students. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $23,399. Get the full Arkansas State University Main Campus report
Henderson State University landed the #6 spot in Arkansas this year. Located in Arkadelphia, AR, Henderson State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,244, with out-of-state students paying around $10,620. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $23,234. Get the full Henderson State University report
University Of Arkansas At Monticello came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Monticello, AR, University Of Arkansas At Monticello is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 38%. Students from in state pay about $9,292 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,857. University Of Arkansas At Monticello Graduate Degrees students take on a median of $15,611 in debt. Read more about University Of Arkansas At Monticello
Arkansas Tech University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Based in Russellville, AR, Arkansas Tech University is a public institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $8,674, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $23,257 in student loans. See the full Arkansas Tech University profile
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus placed #9 among Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. Located in Magnolia, AR, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a public institution. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. Students from in state pay about $9,960 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,690. Typical Graduate Degrees student debt is $20,385. Read more about Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock landed the #10 spot in Arkansas this year. Set in Little Rock, AR, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a public institution. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock graduates 37% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,911, while out-of-state students pay about $22,721. Students borrow a median of $27,093 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Read more about University Of Arkansas At Little Rock
University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff did well this year, earning the #11 position. Set in Pine Bluff, AR, University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a public institution. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff graduates 40% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,375, while out-of-state students pay about $17,955. Students borrow a median of $26,267 to complete their Graduate Degrees program here. Get the full University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff report
Hot Springs Beauty College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Hot Springs Beauty College
New Beginnings Beauty Academy ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. See the full New Beginnings Beauty Academy profile
Paul Mitchell The School Arkansas did well this year, earning the #14 position. More on Paul Mitchell The School Arkansas
University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton placed #15 among Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. Read more about University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton
Career Academy Of Hair Design ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Career Academy Of Hair Design report
Arkansas State University Newport placed #17 among Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. See the full Arkansas State University Newport profile
Crowleys Ridge College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. More on Crowleys Ridge College
Academy Of Professional Cosmetology came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Academy Of Professional Cosmetology
Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Get the full Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas report
Philander Smith College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Read more about Philander Smith College
Arkansas Beauty School Little Rock landed the #22 spot in Arkansas this year. Read the full report on Arkansas Beauty School Little Rock
The Salon Professional Academy North Little Rock placed #23 among Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. Read the full report on The Salon Professional Academy North Little Rock
Hendrix College
Hendrix College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Hendrix College
Pulaski Technical College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Read more about Pulaski Technical College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Arkansas
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Imagine Paul Mitchell Partner School ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Imagine Paul Mitchell Partner School
Arkansas Colleges Of Health Education landed the #27 spot in Arkansas this year. Read the full report on Arkansas Colleges Of Health Education
Arkansas Baptist College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. More on Arkansas Baptist College
Jefferson Regional Medical Center School Of Nursing placed #29 among Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. Read the full report on Jefferson Regional Medical Center School Of Nursing
Northwest Arkansas Community College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Northwest Arkansas Community College report
Ecclesia College
Ecclesia College placed #31 among Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. Get the full Ecclesia College report
Arthurs Beauty College Jonesboro did well this year, earning the #32 position. Get the full Arthurs Beauty College Jonesboro report
Southern Arkansas University Tech placed #33 among Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. See the full Southern Arkansas University Tech profile
National Park Community College placed #34 among Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. Get the full National Park Community College report
Designer Barber And Stylist School Fort Smith ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on Designer Barber And Stylist School Fort Smith
River Valley School Of Massage landed the #36 spot in Arkansas this year. See the full River Valley School Of Massage profile
Velvatex College Of Beauty Culture landed the #37 spot in Arkansas this year. More on Velvatex College Of Beauty Culture
Ouachita Baptist University landed the #38 spot in Arkansas this year. More on Ouachita Baptist University
Arkansas State University Mountain Home did well this year, earning the #39 position. Read more about Arkansas State University Mountain Home
Champion Christian College placed #40 among Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. Read the full report on Champion Christian College
Goodfellas Barber College landed the #41 spot in Arkansas this year. Get the full Goodfellas Barber College report
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Graduate Degrees schools. See the full University Of Arkansas Fort Smith profile
East Arkansas Community College landed the #43 spot in Arkansas this year. Get the full East Arkansas Community College report
Grantham University did well this year, earning the #44 position. More on Grantham University
Southeast Arkansas College came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Southeast Arkansas College
University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences did well this year, earning the #46 position. Read more about University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences
University Of The Ozarks placed #47 among Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. Get the full University Of The Ozarks report
Academy Of Salon And Spa landed the #48 spot in Arkansas this year. Read the full report on Academy Of Salon And Spa
Strayer University Arkansas did well this year, earning the #49 position. More on Strayer University Arkansas
Arthurs Beauty College Inc Jacksonville came in at #50 in this year's ranking. More on Arthurs Beauty College Inc Jacksonville
More Graduate Degrees Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 66 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 80 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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