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2024 Best Grad Schools in Arkansas for Master's Degrees

13 Colleges
$53,270 Avg Salary

When pursuing a grad degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Master's Degree Colleges in Arkansas ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing the Best Grad School for You

Our analysis looked at 13 grad schools in Arkansas to determine which ones have the best master's degree programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best grad schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.

Average Earnings

Average early-career salary of those graduating with a master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. That is, everyone wants their master's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.

Taking Out Student Loans

In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that graduate students take on while pursuing their master's degree. We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty master's recipients will have paying back their loans.

More Ranking Factors That Are Important

We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Master's Degree Schools ranking. On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.

We go into more detail on these factors on our graduate school ranking methodology page.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
Doctorate Degrees Ranking Other Graduate Rankings
You may also want to narrow this list by location to find the best master's degree schools nearest you. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.

If you plan to take your education even further, you may want to visit our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.

Top Master's Degree Schools in Arkansas

Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:

1
UARK crest
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
1,229 Master's Degrees Awarded
$62,034 Average Early-Career Earnings

University of Arkansas tops this year’s ranking as the best grad school for master’s degrees in Arkansas for overall quality. UARK is a large public school situated in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It awarded 1,229 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a master’s degree from UARK go into careers with an average salary of $62,034 during the early years of their career.

Learn More About University of Arkansas

2
1,850 Master's Degrees Awarded
$51,204 Average Early-Career Earnings

A rank of #2 on our Best Master’s Degree in Arkansas list means Arkansas State University - Main Campus is a great place for students working on their degree. A-State is a fairly large public school situated in Jonesboro, Arkansas. It awarded 1,850 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a master’s degree from A-State go into careers with an average salary of $51,204 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Arkansas State University - Main Campus

3
JBU crest
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, Arkansas
166 Master's Degrees Awarded
$52,599 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend John Brown University. The school came in at #3 in Arkansas on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. JBU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 166 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a master’s degree from JBU go into careers with an average salary of $52,599 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on John Brown University

4
Harding crest
Harding University
Searcy, Arkansas
298 Master's Degrees Awarded
$59,423 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harding University. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Arkansas list. Harding is a private not-for-profit institution located in Searcy, Arkansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 298 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $59,423 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Harding University

5
536 Master's Degrees Awarded
$50,385 Average Early-Career Earnings

A rank of #5 on our Best Master’s Degree in Arkansas list means University of Central Arkansas is a great place for students working on their degree. Conway, Arkansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 536 students in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $50,385 during the early years of their career.

Learn More About University of Central Arkansas

6
416 Master's Degrees Awarded
$48,086 Average Early-Career Earnings

University of Arkansas at Little Rock did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Arkansas ranking, coming in at #6. UA Little Rock is a medium-sized public school situated in Little Rock, Arkansas. It awarded 416 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a master’s degree from UA Little Rock go into careers with an average salary of $48,086 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on University of Arkansas at Little Rock

7
356 Master's Degrees Awarded
$43,352 Average Early-Career Earnings

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Arkansas list. Located in Magnolia, Arkansas, the medium-sized public school awarded 356 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is $43,352 during the early years of their career.

Learn More About Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

8
155 Master's Degrees Awarded
$38,136 Average Early-Career Earnings

University of Arkansas at Monticello landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Arkansas ranking. Monticello, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 155 students in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from UAM is $38,136 during the early years of their career.

Learn More About University of Arkansas at Monticello

9
Ouachita Baptist crest
Ouachita Baptist University
Arkadelphia, Arkansas

Ouachita Baptist University landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Arkansas ranking.

Full Ouachita Baptist University Report

10
Henderson State University crest
Henderson State University
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
177 Master's Degrees Awarded
$42,908 Average Early-Career Earnings

With a ranking of #10, Henderson State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Arkansas list. Arkadelphia, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 177 students in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Henderson State University is $42,908 during the early years of their career.

Full Henderson State University Report

11
ATU crest
Arkansas Tech University
Russellville, Arkansas
261 Master's Degrees Awarded
$43,606 Average Early-Career Earnings

Arkansas Tech University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Arkansas ranking. Arkansas Tech University is a medium-sized public school located in Russellville, Arkansas that handed out 261 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from ATU is $43,606 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Arkansas Tech University

12
34 Master's Degrees Awarded

With a ranking of #12, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Arkansas list. UAPB is a small public school situated in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. It awarded 34 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Learn More About University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

13
Grantham University crest
Grantham University
LIttle Rock, Arkansas
420 Master's Degrees Awarded
$67,350 Average Early-Career Earnings

With a ranking of #13, Grantham University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Arkansas list. LIttle Rock, Arkansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 420 students in 2020-2021.

Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $67,350 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Grantham University

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Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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