Why This Matters

  • 29 ASSOCIATE DEGREE INSTITUTIONS IN ARKANSAS

    In Arkansas, there are 29 community colleges that offer associate degree programs, according to College Navigator.

  • $4,089 AVERAGE IN-DISTRICT TUITION IN ARKANSAS

    The estimated amount paid by students for tuition and fees at in-district community colleges in Arkansas was $4,089 for the 2022-23 school year, based on estimates from College Board.

  • 80.6% OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS IN THE U.S. RECEIVED FINANCIAL AID

    Based on statistics from the 2019-20 school year, 452,493 students at community colleges in the U.S. received financial aid of some type to help pay for tuition.

Our Research

This list features some of the best community colleges in Arkansas. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. We included small, midsize, and large colleges as well as trade, technical, and vocational programs. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.

The colleges on our list are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a reputable organization that examines objectives, quality and overall effectiveness of education programs in the United States.

We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.

The Top 50 Community Colleges in Arkansas

Best Community Colleges In Arkansas Badge 2023
01
Intelligent Pick
University of Arkansas Community College Hope & Texarkana
01
Best for Dental Assisting
Arkansas Northeastern College
01
Best for Online Programs
North Arkansas College
01
Best Transfer Prep
University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain
01
Best for Agriculture
University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville
01
Best for Support Resources
NorthWest Arkansas Community College
01
Best for Degree Options
UA Community College Morrilton
01
Best for Quick Graduation
East Arkansas Community College
01
Best Aviation Program
Ozarka College
01
Best Location
National Park College
01

Black River Technical College
01

University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College
01

Southeast Arkansas Seark College
01

South Arkansas Community College

What You Should Know About Graduating From Community College in Arkansas

The potential career paths and opportunities within occupations should factor into your community college choice. Based on May 2021 wage data, the top five highest-paying careers for people with an associate degree in Arkansas were air traffic controllers, dental hygienists, radiation therapists, nuclear medicine technologists, and occupational therapy assistants.

You should also consider the number of job openings that are available. Among careers in Arkansas that require an associate degree, the ones with the most job openings include preschool teachers (except special education), paralegals and legal assistants, physical therapist assistants, radiologic technologists, and dental hygienists.

Other careers are on the decline, which can make finding a position more difficult. The Arkansas careers for people with associate degrees that are expected to decline the most include desktop publishers and human resources assistants.

What’s Next?

As you research community colleges in Arkansas, considering the available financial aid options is also important. Check out these federal and state resources to learn more about the financial aid options that are available to community college students in Arkansas.

  • Arkansas Department of Higher Learning. The Arkansas Department of Higher Learning provides information on financial aid options available to Arkansas students, including scholarship options.
  • Federal Student Aid. The office of Federal Student Aid offers over $120 billion in scholarships, grants, loans, and work study each year. Check your eligibility for various financial aid types with FAFSA4caster. When you’re ready to apply, you can use the online FAFSA form.
  • CareerOneStop. This resource lists various financial aid options, including scholarships and grants, with the option to filter your results by state and degree type. This allows you to see qualifications, application processes, and contact information for financial aid options that match your needs.