Conway, Arkansas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Conway, Arkansas: median public in-state tuition $21,330 (+287.0% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $46,789 (-14.0% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 91.1% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $21,298 (+60.5% 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 (-14.0% 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 (+60.5% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 53.5%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 73.3%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Conway serve students across Arkansas with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 4 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 9,412 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $21,330. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Conway, 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 | $11,576 | 45.0% | 114,592 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
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 | $54,384 | 88.0% | 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.
| 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% |
| Jonesboro | $8,090 | $17,276 | $15,500 | 55.4% | 9,179 | $42,617 | 88.0% |
| Little Rock | $13,014 | $14,894 | $19,000 | 30.4% | 9,066 | $40,092 | 87.8% |
| Russellville | $8,674 | $10,978 | $21,000 | 48.6% | 5,449 | N/A | N/A |
| North Little Rock | $6,300 | $17,127 | $14,290 | N/A | 4,641 | N/A | N/A |
| Fort Smith | $7,334 | $14,252 | $6,365 | 37.9% | 4,238 | N/A | N/A |
| Searcy | $26,262 | $18,538 | $19,464 | 68.8% | 3,436 | $52,876 | 91.6% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top 2 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 2 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 2 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 3 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 3 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 2 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 2 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 2 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 3 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, $149,970, Central Baptist College
Central Baptist College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $126,209, University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $122,590, Hendrix College
Hendrix College
Top 3 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 2 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 (+60.5% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
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 (-14.0% 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 (+60.5% 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 Conway, Arkansas are $46,789, about -14.0% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
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 88.0% (+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 76.4%—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%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Conway?
This city profile covers 4 campuses in Conway, Arkansas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Conway?
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 $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Conway?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Conway is $46,789 vs $44,824 for Arkansas and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Conway colleges?
Median completer debt in Conway is $21,298 vs $11,576 for Arkansas and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Conway?
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?
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