Paying for college · Arkansas
What college really costs in Arkansas
Average yearly net price after grants at 69 four-year colleges, lowest first. The figure for families earning under $30,000 shows how far need-based aid goes at each school.
Arkansas state grants
- Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship (with Challenge PLUS): $2,000 in year 1, $4,000 in years 2 and 3 and $5,000 in year 4 at a four-year college ($2,000 then $3,000 at a two-year college). Challenge PLUS adds up to $1,500 a semester for students with a Student Aid Index below 8,000.
- Arkansas Future Grant (ArFuture): Covers tuition and fees left after other aid at a two-year college; at a four-year college it pays up to the average two-year college cost
- Federal Pell Grant: up to $7,395 a year (2026–27)
Working while you study
$11.00/hour minimum wage
$11.00 since 1 January 2021, for employers with 4 or more employees.
All four-year colleges in Arkansas
| College | Avg net price | Income under $30k | Graduate | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cossatot Community College of the University of ArkansasDe Queen · public | $2,141 | — | — | — |
| Black River Technical CollegePocahontas · public | $2,472 | $1,463 | — | $9,750 |
| NorthWest Arkansas Community CollegeBentonville · public | $4,139 | $2,972 | — | $10,732 |
| Ozarka CollegeMelbourne · public | $4,182 | $3,613 | — | $19,000 |
| University of Arkansas Community College Rich MountainMena · public | $4,496 | — | — | $6,990 |
| Arkansas Northeastern CollegeBlytheville · public | $4,778 | — | — | — |
| University of Arkansas Hope-TexarkanaHope · public | $4,978 | — | — | — |
| University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community CollegeForrest City · public | $5,110 | — | — | $4,610 |
| Arkansas State University Mid-SouthWest Memphis · public | $5,172 | — | — | — |
| University of Arkansas Community College-BatesvilleBatesville · public | $5,456 | $4,797 | — | $8,613 |
| South Arkansas CollegeEl Dorado · public | $5,607 | — | — | $10,365 |
| Phillips Community College of the University of ArkansasHelena · public | $5,957 | — | — | — |
| Velvatex College of Beauty CultureLittle Rock · private | $7,534 | — | — | — |
| Arkansas State University-Mountain HomeMountain Home · public | $7,708 | $6,866 | — | $10,750 |
| Arkansas State University Three RiversMalvern · public | $8,518 | $8,394 | — | $15,750 |
| Arkansas State University-NewportNewport · public | $8,534 | $8,511 | — | $8,126 |
| Arkansas State University-BeebeBeebe · public | $8,761 | $7,746 | — | $10,500 |
| Southern Arkansas University TechCamden · public | $8,799 | — | — | $6,228 |
| University of Aesthetics & CosmetologyEl Dorado · private | $8,813 | — | — | $9,833 |
| National Park CollegeHot Springs · public | $8,864 | $8,644 | — | $9,526 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort SmithFort Smith · public | $9,653 | $8,617 | 42% | $20,500 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-MorriltonMorrilton · public | $9,876 | — | — | $8,350 |
| North Arkansas CollegeHarrison · public | $10,135 | $9,355 | — | $7,000 |
| Searcy Beauty CollegeSearcy · private | $10,304 | — | — | $9,833 |
| Arthur's Beauty CollegeJacksonville · private | $10,792 | — | — | $12,500 |
| Arkansas Tech UniversityRussellville · public | $11,332 | $10,261 | 45% | $20,000 |
| University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical CollegeNorth Little Rock · public | $11,354 | $10,838 | — | $15,000 |
| The Salon Professional AcademySherwood · private | $11,479 | — | — | $6,333 |
| University of Arkansas at Pine BluffPine Bluff · public | $11,528 | $11,258 | 39% | $24,656 |
| Career Academy of Hair DesignSpringdale · private | $11,632 | $10,978 | — | $6,333 |
| GoodFellas Barber CollegeLittle Rock · private | $12,675 | — | — | — |
| Arthur's Beauty CollegeConway · private | $12,806 | — | — | $12,500 |
| Arkansas Baptist CollegeLittle Rock · private | $12,951 | — | 7% | $28,753 |
| Northwest Technical InstituteSpringdale · public | $13,372 | $12,961 | — | — |
| Arkansas Beauty CollegeRussellville · private | $13,885 | — | — | — |
| Academy of Professional CosmetologyRogers · private | $14,007 | — | — | $6,333 |
| Lyon CollegeBatesville · private | $14,400 | $10,853 | 45% | $23,250 |
| Northern Technical CollegePine Bluff · private | $14,732 | — | — | — |
| Arthur's Beauty CollegeJonesboro · private | $14,845 | — | — | $15,625 |
| Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro · public | $15,441 | $13,900 | 58% | $19,498 |
| University of Arkansas at MonticelloMonticello · public | $15,990 | $15,497 | 52% | $20,152 |
| Southern Arkansas UniversityMagnolia · public | $16,015 | $15,526 | 46% | $18,750 |
| New Tyler Barber College IncNorth Little Rock · private | $16,031 | — | — | $9,500 |
| Champion Christian CollegeHot Springs · private | $16,109 | $13,847 | 23% | $19,375 |
| Academy of Salon and SpaFort Smith · private | $16,296 | — | — | $6,333 |
| University of Central ArkansasConway · public | $16,423 | $14,394 | 54% | $19,500 |
| Shorter CollegeN Little Rock · private | $16,608 | — | — | — |
| Paul Mitchell the School-ArkansasFayetteville · private | $16,624 | $14,813 | — | $9,833 |
| Hot Springs Beauty CollegeHot Springs · private | $16,789 | $15,577 | — | $9,833 |
| Washington Barber College IncLittle Rock · private | $16,875 | — | — | — |
| University of Arkansas at Little RockLittle Rock · public | $16,882 | — | 41% | $21,604 |
| University of the OzarksClarksville · private | $17,192 | $15,018 | 48% | $15,000 |
| University of ArkansasFayetteville · public | $17,571 | $12,718 | 71% | $20,500 |
| Williams Baptist UniversityWalnut Ridge · private | $17,814 | $17,480 | 36% | $19,930 |
| Crowley's Ridge CollegeParagould · private | $18,918 | $13,956 | 48% | $24,037 |
| Arkansas Beauty School-Little RockLittle Rock · private | $18,995 | — | — | $6,333 |
| Arkansas Technical SchoolNorth Little Rock · private | $19,128 | — | — | $11,630 |
| Harding UniversitySearcy · private | $19,786 | $17,711 | 71% | $24,329 |
| Designer Barber & Stylist SchoolFort Smith · private | $19,796 | — | — | $8,333 |
| Central Baptist CollegeConway · private | $20,276 | $19,430 | 41% | $21,750 |
| Ecclesia CollegeSpringdale · private | $20,458 | $18,911 | 32% | $15,875 |
| Southeast Arkansas CollegePine Bluff · public | $20,722 | — | — | $13,067 |
| Henderson State UniversityArkadelphia · public | $21,843 | — | 36% | $20,500 |
| Philander Smith UniversityLittle Rock · private | $22,153 | $22,078 | 36% | $29,375 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Little RockNorth Little Rock · private | $22,266 | $21,912 | — | $9,556 |
| John Brown UniversitySiloam Springs · private | $22,476 | $22,353 | 77% | $23,250 |
| Hendrix CollegeConway · private | $23,177 | $16,959 | 72% | $23,250 |
| Ouachita Baptist UniversityArkadelphia · private | $25,343 | $17,472 | 66% | $19,500 |
| Arkansas Welding AcademyJacksonville · private | $36,669 | — | — | — |
Linked colleges have a full funding guide. More are added every week.
Short of what aid covers?
Students in Arkansas use My Study Fund to collect monthly support from family, friends and mentors, and receive every dollar.
Sources
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; state program pages linked above, checked 2026-10-28. Four-year, campus-based public and private nonprofit colleges with complete net-price data.