Conway, Arkansas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Conway, Arkansas shows: median public in-state tuition $21,330 (+287.0% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $46,789 (-13.9% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 91.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $21,298 (+58.6% vs U.S.) 9,412 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 4 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 9,412 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $21,330 (+287.0% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $46,789 (-13.9% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 91.1% (+3.1 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $16,796 (+68.5% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $21,298 (+58.6% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,173
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 53.5%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 73.3%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Conway, Arkansas—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Arkansas and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Conway vs Arkansas & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conway, Arkansas | $21,330 | $16,796 | $21,298 | 53.5% | 9,412 |
| Arkansas (state median) | $4,200 | $9,144 | $11,153 | 44.6% | 114,619 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Conway, Arkansas vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conway, Arkansas | $46,789 | 91.1% | 73.3% | 6.7% | — | 77.0% | 0.44 |
| Arkansas (state median) | $44,824 | 90.4% | 70.7% | 8.4% | — | 74.8% | 0.47 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Arkansas (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conway, Arkansas | $21,330 | $16,796 | $21,298 | 53.5% | 9,412 | $46,789 | 91.1% |
| Fayetteville | $10,104 | $16,233 | $9,833 | 70.5% | 28,776 | $58,191 | 91.4% |
| Fayetteville | $10,104 | $16,233 | $9,833 | 70.5% | 28,776 | $58,191 | 91.4% |
| Little Rock | $13,014 | $14,894 | $16,500 | 30.4% | 9,066 | $40,092 | 87.8% |
| North Little Rock | $6,300 | $17,127 | $12,080 | N/A | 4,641 | N/A | N/A |
| Fort Smith | $7,334 | $14,252 | $6,365 | 37.9% | 4,238 | N/A | N/A |
| Pine Bluff | $7,306 | $15,846 | $12,000 | 40.4% | 2,785 | $35,550 | 89.5% |
| Hot Springs | $8,555 | $14,294 | $10,100 | 0.0% | 2,019 | N/A | N/A |
| Springdale | $11,564 | $15,992 | $9,692 | 40.0% | 559 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Conway, Arkansas by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 72.4%, Hendrix College
Hendrix College
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 53.5%, University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
Top 10 colleges in Conway, Arkansas by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 91.1%, Hendrix College
Hendrix College
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 89.8%, University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
Top 10 most selective colleges in Conway, Arkansas (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 55.6%, Hendrix College
Hendrix College
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 89.5%, University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
Top 10 colleges in Conway, Arkansas by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $70,636, University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $53,451, Central Baptist College
Central Baptist College
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $40,445, Hendrix College
Hendrix College
Top 10 colleges in Conway, Arkansas by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $77,167, Hendrix College
Hendrix College
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $76,783, University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $45,441, Central Baptist College
Central Baptist College
Top 10 colleges in Conway, Arkansas by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $39,913, Hendrix College
Hendrix College
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $36,670, University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
Top 10 colleges in Conway, Arkansas by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $46,451, Hendrix College
Hendrix College
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $42,426, University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
Top 10 colleges in Conway, Arkansas by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $60,376, Hendrix College
Hendrix College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $45,938, University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
Top 10 colleges in Conway, Arkansas by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $128,085, Central Baptist College
Central Baptist College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $126,290, Hendrix College
Hendrix College
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $124,889, University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Conway, Arkansas (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $12,287, Central Baptist College
Central Baptist College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $16,511, University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
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Rank 3, Net Price, $24,149, Hendrix College
Hendrix College
Top 10 colleges in Conway, Arkansas by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 79.6%, Hendrix College
Hendrix College
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 73.3%, University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
In-state tuition: Conway, Arkansas vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Conway, Arkansas median in-state tuition is $21,330, +287.0% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Conway, Arkansas vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Conway, Arkansas is $21,298 (+58.6% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,173.
Median earnings (10 years out): Conway, Arkansas vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Conway, Arkansas center around $46,789 (-13.9% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Conway, Arkansas vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 91.1% at the median Conway, Arkansas campus (+3.1 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Conway, Arkansas median public in-state tuition is $21,330, about +287.0% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +327.3%.
Median graduate debt is $21,298 (+58.6% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Conway, Arkansas are $46,789, about -13.9% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 91.1% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+3.1 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 73.3% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 6.7% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 77.0% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Hendrix College (91.1%), University of Central Arkansas (89.8%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Conway, Arkansas is 53.5% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Conway?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 4 campuses in Conway, Arkansas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Conway?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Conway is $21,330 and median net price is $16,796. For Arkansas overall, medians are $4,200 and $9,144; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Conway?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Conway is $46,789 vs $44,824 for Arkansas and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Conway colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Conway is $21,298 vs $11,153 for Arkansas and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Conway?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Hendrix College (graduation) and Hendrix College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Conway?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 4 campuses in Conway, Arkansas, 2 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Baptist (1), United Methodist (1).
Sources & related
- Arkansas college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON