Little Rock, Arkansas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Little Rock, Arkansas shows: median public in-state tuition $13,014 (+136.1% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $40,092 (-26.2% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 87.8% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $16,500 (+22.8% vs U.S.) 9,066 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 11 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 9,066 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $13,014 (+136.1% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $40,092 (-26.2% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 87.8% (-0.2 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $14,894 (+49.4% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $16,500 (+22.8% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,173
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 30.4%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 65.7%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Little Rock, Arkansas—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Arkansas and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Little Rock 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, Arkansas | $13,014 | $14,894 | $16,500 | 30.4% | 9,066 |
| 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: Little Rock, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, Arkansas | $40,092 | 87.8% | 65.7% | 10.5% | — | 48.6% | 0.64 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, Arkansas | $13,014 | $14,894 | $16,500 | 30.4% | 9,066 | $40,092 | 87.8% |
| 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% |
| 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 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Little Rock, 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, 41.6%, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 30.4%, Philander Smith University
Philander Smith University
Top 10 colleges in Little Rock, 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, 95.0%, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 90.5%, Philander Smith University
Philander Smith University
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 87.8%, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
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Rank 4, Employment Outcome, 81.1%, Strayer University-Arkansas
Strayer University-Arkansas
Top 10 most selective colleges in Little Rock, 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, 58.8%, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Top 10 colleges in Little Rock, 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, $78,898, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $71,167, Strayer University-Arkansas
Strayer University-Arkansas
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $67,337, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
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Rank 4, Entry-Level Earnings, $27,413, Philander Smith University
Philander Smith University
Top 10 colleges in Little Rock, 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, $88,617, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $87,413, Strayer University-Arkansas
Strayer University-Arkansas
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $79,413, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
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Rank 4, Early-Career Earnings, $44,330, Philander Smith University
Philander Smith University
Top 10 colleges in Little Rock, 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, $66,491, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $40,040, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $36,582, Strayer University-Arkansas
Strayer University-Arkansas
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Rank 4, Mid-Career Earnings, $25,254, Philander Smith University
Philander Smith University
Top 10 colleges in Little Rock, 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, $71,116, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $42,786, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $37,064, Strayer University-Arkansas
Strayer University-Arkansas
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Rank 4, 8-Yr Earnings, $31,824, Philander Smith University
Philander Smith University
Top 10 colleges in Little Rock, 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, $73,827, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $45,265, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $40,092, Strayer University-Arkansas
Strayer University-Arkansas
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Rank 4, 10-Yr Earnings, $38,427, Philander Smith University
Philander Smith University
Top 10 colleges in Little Rock, 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, $132,850, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $82,370, Philander Smith University
Philander Smith University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $74,184, Arkansas Baptist College
Arkansas Baptist College
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Little Rock, 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, $10,627, Arkansas Baptist College
Arkansas Baptist College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $14,224, Philander Smith University
Philander Smith University
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Rank 3, Net Price, $17,248, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Top 10 colleges in Little Rock, 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, 76.5%, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 65.7%, Philander Smith University
Philander Smith University
In-state tuition: Little Rock, Arkansas vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Little Rock, Arkansas median in-state tuition is $13,014, +136.1% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Little Rock, Arkansas vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Little Rock, Arkansas is $16,500 (+22.8% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,173.
Median earnings (10 years out): Little Rock, Arkansas vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Little Rock, Arkansas center around $40,092 (-26.2% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Little Rock, Arkansas vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 87.8% at the median Little Rock, Arkansas campus (-0.2 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
Little Rock, Arkansas median public in-state tuition is $13,014, about +136.1% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +160.7%.
Median graduate debt is $16,500 (+22.8% 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 Little Rock, Arkansas are $40,092, about -26.2% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 87.8% 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% (-0.2 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 65.7% 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 10.5% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 48.6% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (95.0%), Philander Smith University (90.5%), University of Arkansas at Little Rock (87.8%), Strayer University-Arkansas (81.1%)—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 Little Rock, Arkansas is 30.4% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Little Rock?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 11 campuses in Little Rock, Arkansas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Little Rock?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Little Rock is $13,014 and median net price is $14,894. For Arkansas overall, medians are $4,200 and $9,144; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Little Rock?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Little Rock is $40,092 vs $44,824 for Arkansas and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Little Rock colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Little Rock is $16,500 vs $11,153 for Arkansas and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Little Rock?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include University of Arkansas at Little Rock (graduation) and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Little Rock?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 12 campuses in Little Rock, Arkansas, 2 historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs, IPEDS HBCU flag), including Arkansas Baptist College and Philander Smith University; 3 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Baptist (2), United Methodist (1).
Sources & related
- Arkansas college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON