by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a degree. College Factual has developed its Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision. You may be surprised that some normally high-priced schools offer very generous financial aid packages to those who qualify.
In This Year's Value Report:
After analyzing 34 schools in Arkansas, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best value schools. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named University of Arkansas the best value (income $0-$30k) school in Arkansas. This large public school is located in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Arkansas is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Arkansas. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $10,914.
The quality degree programs at NorthWest Arkansas Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas. NorthWest Arkansas Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Bentonville, Arkansas.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, NorthWest Arkansas Community College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Arkansas. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,448.
The quality degree programs at Hendrix College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Conway, Arkansas.
Hendrix College has the honor of being ranked #13 in Arkansas for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,004.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas list. UA Cossatot is located in De Queen, Arkansas and has a small student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas is ranked #9 for quality in the state of Arkansas. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $4,681.
Read full value report on Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas list means Arkansas Northeastern College is a great place for students working on their degree. Blytheville, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Arkansas Northeastern College a great value, but it is also ranked #22 in Arkansas for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,936.
Arkansas State University Three Rivers ranked #6 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas list. Located in Malvern, Arkansas, the school is a small public institution.
Arkansas State University Three Rivers has the honor of being ranked #27 in Arkansas for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,671.
Southern Arkansas University Tech did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Camden, Arkansas, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Southern Arkansas University Tech a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Arkansas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,546.
Southeast Arkansas College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas list. SEARK College is a small public school situated in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Not only is Southeast Arkansas College a great value, but it is also ranked #10 in Arkansas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,829.
With a ranking of #9, Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas list. Phillips County Community College is a public institution located in Helena, Arkansas.
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas has the honor of being ranked #31 in Arkansas for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,164.
Full Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas Value Report
Arkansas State University - Main Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas ranking. Jonesboro, Arkansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Arkansas State University - Main Campus has the honor of being ranked #2 in Arkansas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $10,730.
Learn More About Value at Arkansas State University - Main Campus
With a ranking of #11, University of Arkansas Community College - Morrilton did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas list. UACCM is located in Morrilton, Arkansas and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Arkansas Community College - Morrilton a great value, but it is also ranked #20 in Arkansas for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,427.
Full University of Arkansas Community College - Morrilton Value Report
East Arkansas Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas ranking. This small public school is located in Forrest City, Arkansas.
East Arkansas Community College has the honor of being ranked #17 in Arkansas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $7,091.
With a ranking of #13, University of Arkansas - Fort Smith did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas list. Fort Smith, Arkansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Arkansas - Fort Smith a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in Arkansas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $7,807.
Learn More About Value at University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
Black River Technical College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas ranking, coming in at #14. Pocahontas, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Black River Technical College has the honor of being ranked #21 in Arkansas for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $7,321.
Arkansas State University - Newport ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas list. Arkansas State University - Newport is a small public school located in Newport, Arkansas.
Not only is Arkansas State University - Newport a great value, but it is also ranked #23 in Arkansas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,983.
With a ranking of #16, Arkansas State University - Beebe did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas list. Beebe, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Arkansas State University - Beebe a great value, but it is also ranked #15 in Arkansas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,778.
University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas ranking. University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville is a small public school located in Batesville, Arkansas.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville is ranked #25 for quality in the state of Arkansas. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $7,570.
Learn More About Value at University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville
National Park College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas list. National Park College is located in Hot Springs, Arkansas and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is National Park College a great value, but it is also ranked #24 in Arkansas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $7,892.
South Arkansas Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas ranking. SouthArk is located in El Dorado, Arkansas and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is South Arkansas Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #30 in Arkansas for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,312.
University of Central Arkansas ranked #20 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas list. Conway, Arkansas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Central Arkansas a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Arkansas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $12,358.
With a ranking of #21, Arkansas State University Mid-South did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas list. West Memphis, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Arkansas State University Mid-South is ranked #28 for quality in the state of Arkansas. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,268.
University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas ranking. UA Pulaski Tech is a small public school situated in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College has the honor of being ranked #11 in Arkansas for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,862.
Read full value report on University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College
With a ranking of #23, Arkansas Tech University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas list. ATU is a medium-sized public school situated in Russellville, Arkansas.
Not only is Arkansas Tech University a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in Arkansas for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $10,738.
North Arkansas College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas ranking, coming in at #24. Harrison, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is North Arkansas College a great value, but it is also ranked #26 in Arkansas for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,108.
With a ranking of #25, Harding University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Arkansas list. Harding is located in Searcy, Arkansas and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Harding University has the honor of being ranked #3 in Arkansas for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $15,517.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.