Arkadelphia, Arkansas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)

Last updated: June 4, 2026 Source: College Scorecard

TL;DR

Colleges in Arkadelphia, Arkansas: median public in-state tuition $21,372 (+287.7% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $47,566 (-12.5% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 91.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $20,275 (+52.8% vs U.S.) 3,058 students enrolled statewide.

Key Facts

  • Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
  • Total college enrollment: 3,058 students
  • Median public in-state tuition: $21,372 (+287.7% vs U.S.)
  • Median earnings 10 years after entry: $47,566 (-12.5% vs U.S.)
  • Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 91.7% (+3.7 pp vs U.S.)
  • Median net price: $22,907 (+129.8% vs U.S.)
  • Median student debt at graduation: $20,275 (+52.8% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
  • Average completion rate (institutions in state): 49.4%
  • Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 72.1%

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Overview

Colleges and universities in Arkadelphia serve students across Arkansas with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 3,058 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $21,372. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Arkadelphia, Arkansas and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.

Arkadelphia vs Arkansas & national benchmarks

Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.

State versus regional and national education metrics
Geography In-state tuition Net price Median debt Completion rate Enrollment
Arkadelphia, Arkansas$21,372$22,907$20,27549.4%3,058
Arkansas (state median)$4,200$9,144$11,57645.0%114,592
United States$5,512$9,969$13,27150.3%14,468,221

Earnings & employment outcomes: Arkadelphia, 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.

Earnings and employment outcome benchmarks
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
Arkadelphia, Arkansas$47,56691.7%72.1%8.6%—76.7%0.43
Arkansas (state median)$44,82490.4%70.7%8.4%—74.8%0.47
United States$54,38488.0%76.4%5.0%—73.7%0.41

Other cities in Arkansas (3+ campuses)

Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.

Peer comparison table
City In-state tuition Net price Median debt Completion Enrollment Earnings (10 yr) Working (8 yr)
Arkadelphia, Arkansas$21,372$22,907$20,27549.4%3,058$47,56691.7%
Fayetteville$10,104$16,233$9,83370.5%28,776$58,19191.4%
Fayetteville$10,104$16,233$9,83370.5%28,776$58,19191.4%
Conway$21,330$16,796$21,29853.5%9,412$46,78991.1%
Conway$21,330$16,796$21,29853.5%9,412$46,78991.1%
Jonesboro$8,090$17,276$15,50055.4%9,179$42,61788.0%
Little Rock$13,014$14,894$19,00030.4%9,066$40,09287.8%
Russellville$8,674$10,978$21,00048.6%5,449N/AN/A
North Little Rock$6,300$17,127$14,290N/A4,641N/AN/A
United States$5,512$9,969$13,27150.3%14,468,221$54,38488.0%

Top 2 colleges in Arkadelphia, 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.

  1. Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 61.4%, Ouachita Baptist University

    Ouachita Baptist University

    Private nonprofit · 1,602 enrolled · Arkadelphia

  2. Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 37.3%, Henderson State University

    Henderson State University

    Public · 1,456 enrolled · Arkadelphia

Top 2 colleges in Arkadelphia, 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.

  1. Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 93.0%, Ouachita Baptist University

    Ouachita Baptist University

    Private nonprofit · 1,602 enrolled · Arkadelphia

  2. Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 90.4%, Henderson State University

    Henderson State University

    Public · 1,456 enrolled · Arkadelphia

Most selective college in Arkadelphia, 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.

  1. Rank 1, Admission Rate, 67.5%, Ouachita Baptist University

    Ouachita Baptist University

    Private nonprofit · 1,602 enrolled · Arkadelphia

Top 2 colleges in Arkadelphia, 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.

  1. Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $72,326, Henderson State University

    Henderson State University

    Public · 1,456 enrolled · Arkadelphia

  2. Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $53,195, Ouachita Baptist University

    Ouachita Baptist University

    Private nonprofit · 1,602 enrolled · Arkadelphia

Top 2 colleges in Arkadelphia, 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.

  1. Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $77,583, Ouachita Baptist University

    Ouachita Baptist University

    Private nonprofit · 1,602 enrolled · Arkadelphia

  2. Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $68,733, Henderson State University

    Henderson State University

    Public · 1,456 enrolled · Arkadelphia

Top 2 colleges in Arkadelphia, 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.

  1. Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $41,697, Ouachita Baptist University

    Ouachita Baptist University

    Private nonprofit · 1,602 enrolled · Arkadelphia

  2. Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $35,194, Henderson State University

    Henderson State University

    Public · 1,456 enrolled · Arkadelphia

Top 2 colleges in Arkadelphia, 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.

  1. Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $47,024, Ouachita Baptist University

    Ouachita Baptist University

    Private nonprofit · 1,602 enrolled · Arkadelphia

  2. Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $39,423, Henderson State University

    Henderson State University

    Public · 1,456 enrolled · Arkadelphia

Top 2 colleges in Arkadelphia, 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.

  1. Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $51,673, Ouachita Baptist University

    Ouachita Baptist University

    Private nonprofit · 1,602 enrolled · Arkadelphia

  2. Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $43,459, Henderson State University

    Henderson State University

    Public · 1,456 enrolled · Arkadelphia

Top 2 colleges in Arkadelphia, 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.

  1. Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $122,058, Ouachita Baptist University

    Ouachita Baptist University

    Private nonprofit · 1,602 enrolled · Arkadelphia

  2. Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $79,800, Henderson State University

    Henderson State University

    Public · 1,456 enrolled · Arkadelphia

Top 2 most affordable colleges in Arkadelphia, 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.

  1. Rank 1, Net Price, $22,409, Ouachita Baptist University

    Ouachita Baptist University

    Private nonprofit · 1,602 enrolled · Arkadelphia

  2. Rank 2, Net Price, $23,405, Henderson State University

    Henderson State University

    Public · 1,456 enrolled · Arkadelphia

Top 2 colleges in Arkadelphia, 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.

  1. Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 82.5%, Ouachita Baptist University

    Ouachita Baptist University

    Private nonprofit · 1,602 enrolled · Arkadelphia

  2. Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 61.7%, Henderson State University

    Henderson State University

    Public · 1,456 enrolled · Arkadelphia

In-state tuition: Arkadelphia, Arkansas vs benchmarks

Sticker price

Arkadelphia, Arkansas median in-state tuition is $21,372, +287.7% vs the U.S. median.

Student debt: Arkadelphia, Arkansas vs benchmarks

Borrowing

Median debt at graduation in Arkadelphia, Arkansas is $20,275 (+52.8% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.

Median earnings (10 years out): Arkadelphia, Arkansas vs benchmarks

Payoff

Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Arkadelphia, Arkansas center around $47,566 (-12.5% vs U.S.).

Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.

Employment outcome proxy: Arkadelphia, Arkansas vs benchmarks

Working & not enrolled

The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 91.7% at the median Arkadelphia, Arkansas campus (+3.7 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

Arkadelphia, Arkansas median public in-state tuition is $21,372, about +287.7% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +328.1%.

Median graduate debt is $20,275 (+52.8% above the U.S. median of $13,271). 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 Arkadelphia, Arkansas are $47,566, about -12.5% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).

The median campus reports 91.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+3.7 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 72.1% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.

Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 8.6% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 76.7% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.

Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Ouachita Baptist University (93.0%), Henderson State University (90.4%)—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 Arkadelphia, Arkansas is 49.4% (national institution average about 50.3%).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many colleges are in Arkadelphia?

This city profile covers 2 campuses in Arkadelphia, Arkansas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.

How much does college cost in Arkadelphia?

Median in-state tuition in Arkadelphia is $21,372 and median net price is $22,907. For Arkansas overall, medians are $4,200 and $9,144; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.

What do graduates earn in Arkadelphia?

Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Arkadelphia is $47,566 vs $44,824 for Arkansas and $54,384 nationally.

What is student debt like for Arkadelphia colleges?

Median completer debt in Arkadelphia is $20,275 vs $11,576 for Arkansas and $13,271 nationally.

What are the best colleges in Arkadelphia?

Top campuses on this page include Ouachita Baptist University (graduation) and Ouachita Baptist University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.

Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Arkadelphia?

Among 2 campuses in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Southern Baptist (1).

Sources & related