2026 Best Value Graduate Degrees Schools in Arkansas
Looking for the best-value Graduate Degrees degree programs in Arkansas? We have ranked 80 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree reviewed 11 schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Arkansas
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Arkansas State University Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Graduate Degrees degree schools in Arkansas. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a public school based in Jonesboro, AR. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $42,617. Set against $23,399 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%. Get the full Arkansas State University Main Campus report
A rank of #2 makes University Of Central Arkansas one of the best values in Arkansas. Based in Conway, AR, University Of Central Arkansas is a public institution. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,938. That is a strong return on a $22,920 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%. More on University Of Central Arkansas
A rank of #3 makes Henderson State University one of the best values in Arkansas. Located in Arkadelphia, AR, Henderson State University is a public institution. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $43,459. Set against $23,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Henderson State University report
A rank of #4 makes University Of Arkansas one of the best values in Arkansas. University Of Arkansas is a public school based in Fayetteville, AR. 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. University Of Arkansas alumni report median earnings of $58,191 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arkansas has an acceptance rate of 74%. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas
You'll get strong value at Harding University, which ranked #5 this year. Based in Searcy, AR, Harding University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $25,962. Graduates carry a median of $26,715 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $52,876. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Harding University report
Arkansas Tech University came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Based in Russellville, AR, Arkansas Tech University is a public institution. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $41,766. Set against $23,257 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arkansas Tech University admits about 96% of applicants. See the full Arkansas Tech University profile
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Located in Magnolia, AR, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a public institution. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,386 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock landed the #8 spot for value in Arkansas this year. Set in Little Rock, AR, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a public institution. 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. Median earnings reach $45,265 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock has an acceptance rate of 59%. Read more about University Of Arkansas At Little Rock
John Brown University came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Located in Siloam Springs, AR, John Brown University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,756. The median Graduate Degrees program debt is $25,216. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $53,907. That is a strong return on a $25,216 median debt. John Brown University has an acceptance rate of 76%. See the full John Brown University profile
University Of Arkansas At Monticello ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Based in Monticello, AR, University Of Arkansas At Monticello is a public institution. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $36,902. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about University Of Arkansas At Monticello
University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Set in Pine Bluff, AR, University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff is a public institution. 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. Median earnings reach $35,550 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $26,267 median debt. University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff admits about 41% of applicants. Get the full University Of Arkansas At Pine Bluff report
Velvatex College Of Beauty Culture placed #12 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. More on Velvatex College Of Beauty Culture
University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences
University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton placed #14 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. Read more about University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton
Ecclesia College
Ecclesia College offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Get the full Ecclesia College report
Baptist Health College Little Rock ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Baptist Health College Little Rock
South Arkansas Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on South Arkansas Community College
North Arkansas College offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. More on North Arkansas College
Paul Mitchell The School Arkansas offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. More on Paul Mitchell The School Arkansas
Arthurs Beauty College Inc Jacksonville placed #20 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. More on Arthurs Beauty College Inc Jacksonville
Williams Baptist College landed the #21 spot for value in Arkansas this year. Get the full Williams Baptist College report
East Arkansas Community College landed the #22 spot for value in Arkansas this year. Get the full East Arkansas Community College report
Shorter College
Shorter College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Shorter College report
Academy Of Salon And Spa offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read the full report on Academy Of Salon And Spa
Arthurs Beauty School Inc Conway came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Arthurs Beauty School Inc Conway
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Graduate Degrees Degree Schools in Arkansas
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Arkansas State University System Office came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. See the full Arkansas State University System Office profile
Northern Technical College landed the #27 spot for value in Arkansas this year. See the full Northern Technical College profile
Philander Smith College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read more about Philander Smith College
Washington Barber College Inc ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. See the full Washington Barber College Inc profile
Arkansas Baptist College came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. More on Arkansas Baptist College
Ouachita Baptist University placed #31 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. More on Ouachita Baptist University
Lyon College
Lyon College placed #32 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. Read the full report on Lyon College
Champion Christian College landed the #33 spot for value in Arkansas this year. Read the full report on Champion Christian College
Northwest Arkansas Community College placed #34 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. Get the full Northwest Arkansas Community College report
Arkansas Beauty School Little Rock offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Read the full report on Arkansas Beauty School Little Rock
Arkansas State University Newport offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. See the full Arkansas State University Newport profile
University Of Arkansas System Office landed the #37 spot for value in Arkansas this year. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas System Office
Ozarka College
Ozarka College placed #38 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. More on Ozarka College
Southeast Arkansas College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Read the full report on Southeast Arkansas College
Goodfellas Barber College offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full Goodfellas Barber College report
The Salon Professional Academy North Little Rock offered strong value this year, earning the #41 position. Read the full report on The Salon Professional Academy North Little Rock
Rich Mountain Community College came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. More on Rich Mountain Community College
Strayer University Arkansas landed the #43 spot for value in Arkansas this year. More on Strayer University Arkansas
University Of The Ozarks landed the #44 spot for value in Arkansas this year. Get the full University Of The Ozarks report
College Of The Ouachitas came in at #45 in this year's value ranking. See the full College Of The Ouachitas profile
Jackson Theological Seminary ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. Get the full Jackson Theological Seminary report
New Beginnings Beauty Academy placed #47 among the best-value Graduate Degrees schools in Arkansas. See the full New Beginnings Beauty Academy profile
River Valley School Of Massage ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. See the full River Valley School Of Massage profile
New Tyler Barber College Inc ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Graduate Degrees schools. See the full New Tyler Barber College Inc profile
Professional Cosmetology Education Center came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. More on Professional Cosmetology Education Center
More Graduate Degrees Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 11 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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