Jonesboro, Arkansas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Jonesboro, Arkansas: median public in-state tuition $8,090 (+46.8% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $42,617 (-21.6% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 88.0% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $15,500 (+16.8% vs U.S.) 9,179 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 9,179 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $8,090 (+46.8% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $42,617 (-21.6% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 88.0% (+0.0 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $17,276 (+73.3% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $15,500 (+16.8% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 55.4%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 78.1%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Jonesboro serve students across Arkansas with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 9,179 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $8,090. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Jonesboro, Arkansas and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Jonesboro 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro, Arkansas | $8,090 | $17,276 | $15,500 | 55.4% | 9,179 |
| 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: Jonesboro, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro, Arkansas | $42,617 | 88.0% | 78.1% | 11.2% | — | 71.1% | 0.48 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro, Arkansas | $8,090 | $17,276 | $15,500 | 55.4% | 9,179 | $42,617 | 88.0% |
| 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% |
| Conway | $21,330 | $16,796 | $21,298 | 53.5% | 9,412 | $46,789 | 91.1% |
| Conway | $21,330 | $16,796 | $21,298 | 53.5% | 9,412 | $46,789 | 91.1% |
| 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 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Jonesboro, 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, 55.4%, Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Top college in Jonesboro, 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, 88.0%, Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Most selective college in Jonesboro, 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, 82.3%, Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Top college in Jonesboro, 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, $74,284, Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Top college in Jonesboro, 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, $98,691, Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Top college in Jonesboro, 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, $38,944, Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Top college in Jonesboro, 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, $40,605, Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Top college in Jonesboro, 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, $42,617, Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Top college in Jonesboro, 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, $141,722, Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Most affordable college in Jonesboro, 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, $12,366, Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Top college in Jonesboro, 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, 78.1%, Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
In-state tuition: Jonesboro, Arkansas vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Jonesboro, Arkansas median in-state tuition is $8,090, +46.8% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Jonesboro, Arkansas vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Jonesboro, Arkansas is $15,500 (+16.8% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Jonesboro, Arkansas vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Jonesboro, Arkansas center around $42,617 (-21.6% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Jonesboro, Arkansas vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 88.0% at the median Jonesboro, Arkansas campus (+0.0 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
Jonesboro, Arkansas median public in-state tuition is $8,090, about +46.8% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +62.1%.
Median graduate debt is $15,500 (+16.8% 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 Jonesboro, Arkansas are $42,617, about -21.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 88.0% 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% (+0.0 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 78.1% 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 11.2% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 71.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Arkansas State University (88.0%)—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 Jonesboro, Arkansas is 55.4% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Jonesboro?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Jonesboro, Arkansas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Jonesboro?
Median in-state tuition in Jonesboro is $8,090 and median net price is $17,276. For Arkansas overall, medians are $4,200 and $9,144; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Jonesboro?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Jonesboro is $42,617 vs $44,824 for Arkansas and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Jonesboro colleges?
Median completer debt in Jonesboro is $15,500 vs $11,576 for Arkansas and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Jonesboro?
Top campuses on this page include Arkansas State University (graduation) and Arkansas State University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Jonesboro?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Jonesboro, Arkansas, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Arkansas college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON