Best College ROI in Ar 2026
23 colleges in Ar analyzed for return on investment. University of Arkansas Grantham leads with a ROI Score of 99/100 (STRONG BUY).
Ar has 23 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 11 public institutions and 12 private ones. Across the 23 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $24K and earn $85K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
100% of Ar colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at University of Arkansas Grantham (median $95K on Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Ar
University of Arkansas Grantham
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Ar's ROI rankings on its Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $15K in median debt.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer and Information Sciences. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Hendrix College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer Science. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $21K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Ar
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Arkansas Grantham(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $15K | $95K | A (99) |
| 2 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $17K | $95K | A (97) |
| 3 | Hendrix College(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 4 | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith(public) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 5 | University of the Ozarks(private) | Mathematics | $19K | $78K | A (96) |
| 6 | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 7 | Harding University(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 8 | University of Arkansas(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 9 | Arkansas Tech University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $23K | $95K | A (94) |
| 10 | University of Central Arkansas(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $26K | $95K | A (94) |
| 11 | Philander Smith University(private) | Computer Science | $25K | $95K | A (93) |
| 12 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $26K | $95K | A (93) |
| 13 | Lyon College(private) | Computer Science | $30K | $95K | A (91) |
| 14 | John Brown University(private) | Mechanical Engineering | $22K | $92K | A (85) |
| 15 | Arkansas State University(public) | Mechanical Engineering | $23K | $92K | A (84) |
| 16 | Henderson State University(public) | Engineering | $26K | $92K | A (83) |
| 17 | Ouachita Baptist University(private) | Finance and Financial Management Services | $20K | $65K | A (80) |
| 18 | Williams Baptist University(private) | Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | $25K | $65K | B (79) |
| 19 | Crowley's Ridge College(private) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $26K | $65K | B (78) |
| 20 | Ecclesia College(private) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $24K | $65K | B (78) |
College debt and earnings data for Ar is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
University of Arkansas Grantham has the best ROI in Ar with a score of 99/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $15K in median debt.
Across 23 Ar colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $24K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $85K.
University of Arkansas Grantham graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Ar has 23 colleges in our database (11 public, 12 private). Of the 23 with reportable ROI, 100% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).