Arkansas education officials report a statewide effort among colleges and universities to increase online offerings. The common goal is to improve graduation rates. It is estimated that 350,000 Arkansas adults have completed college coursework but have not earned a degree. By boosting online educational opportunities, Arkansas schools plan to improve this rate of degree attainment. The state's major institutions are greatly expanding online educational offerings each year. The result is a broad range of options for distance learners.
But before we dive into our list of the best online colleges in Arkansas for 2019, let's start with the state of higher education and online education in Arkansas.
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Overview of Online Colleges in Arkansas
A Brief Overview of Higher Education in Arkansas
With a total of 53 degree-granting institutions in the state, Arkansas is a great place for individuals seeking higher education at the associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctorate levels. Arkansas boasts more than 30 public institutions of higher learning, including public two-year and four-year schools. Students have the option to attend one of 16 nonprofit schools or choose between one of four for-profit institutions. As the presence of distance education continues to grow, more schools are offering online programs to both in-state and out-of-state students. Between distance learners and traditional face-to-face students, more than 167,000 students were enrolled in higher education programs in Arkansas in 2016, among the highest enrollment levels in the United States.[dataviz-stats public="33" non-profit="16" for-profit="4"]When making the decision to go to college, people often consider the cost of their desired degree. College is expensive and it is important to consider the total cost of education. On average, residents of Arkansas attending a public two-year college spend approximately $4,000 per year on education, while those attending a four-year school spend almost $9,000. Out-of-state students attending an Arkansas college will pay more, though the difference in tuition varies by school. Some online colleges in Arkansas offer in-state tuition to distance learners all over the country. Tuition rates in Arkansas flagship universities may also be slightly higher. Financial aid is also available to students on a need and non-need basis.
Higher Education in Arkansas
Featured Online Programs
The State of Online Higher Education in Arkansas
As an increasing number of adults return to school after spending some time in the workforce, the rate of enrollment for online programs has been rising. Students opt to take classes online for the added flexibility, the lower cost, and the ability to complete a degree at a school in another state. It is also common for students, particularly those in-state, to enroll in a hybrid program with some classes online and some on-campus. Many online colleges in Arkansas offer these blended programs with the majority of work done at a distance with a weekly meeting in the evenings or on weekends.[dataviz-nces online="12.5" undergrad="75.8" in-state="85.2"]The number of online colleges in AR continues to grow due to statewide efforts to enhance opportunities. The Arkansas Distance Learning Association is dedicated to promoting and leading initiatives for distance learning in the state. The association hosts annual conventions to promote these initiatives. Managing all financial aid programs and overseeing budgets and development, the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE) continually works to nurture both online and on-campus initiatives throughout the state.Two recent enterprises have given online education in Arkansas a massive boost. By offering easy access to coursework in a variety of fields, the 100% online eVersity has opened its "doors" and is positioned to greatly enhance online learning opportunities in Arkansas as part of the University of Arkansas System. Similarly, Arkansas Tech University's new eTech College hopes to offer a streamlined process to encourage online learning. A top goal of these projects is to reach Arkansas distance learners who started college but never completed their degree.
Tuition Breaks for Out-of-State Students
As out-of-state tuition is notoriously higher than in-state tuition, many students have historically opted to attend a local school to keep costs low. In addition to many online schools opting to provide in-state tuition to distance learners, some online colleges in Arkansas have joined the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) in its Academic Common Market (ACM) program. The SREB is a nonprofit organization devoted to improving public education at all levels. The board consists of 16 member states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.The SREB formed the ACM to assist out-of-state students seeking a degree not offered in their state. The ACM works to minimize unnecessary duplication of degree programs in participating schools and recognizes that it is unreasonable for any school to offer every program. Students interested in one of the 1,900 participating undergraduate and graduate degrees are able to complete their degree at an out-of-state school for in-state tuition. Participation in the ACM is not merit based. Interested students must meet the academic requirements of their school of choice, once admitted, students will qualify to enroll in this program.
Best Online Colleges in Arkansas
Below, you will find our rankings of the best online four-year programs in Arkansas. Our profiles look at how schools approach online education and then list services for distance students and their popular, fully online degrees. After reviewing the best online schools in Arkansas, explore our state resources, like a database of every university in Arkansas or our index of popular in-state scholarships.
Ranking Methodology
To determine the best online colleges in each state, we examined the factors most important to prospective students: Academic quality and reputation, online program strength, and cost and student aid. At the most basic level, we use the following formula to determine the best online colleges: Academic Quality + Online Offerings + Cost and Student Aid = Final Score. Of course, there's more to these calculations than meets the eye. Visit our methodology page to discover the data points that shape our formula and to learn more about the process we use to rank schools.
Most Affordable Online Colleges in Arkansas
Below you'll find a list of online colleges in Arkansas sorted by lowest tuition rates.
Affordability Methodology
Our list of the most affordable online schools in Arkansas is based on in-state yearly tuition, or annual tuition rates if a school does not differentiate between in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition rates are based on a full course load each semester or term. All colleges on the list offer at least one bachelor's degree completion program available entirely online.Those institutions with the lowest tuition are ranked highest, providing prospective students with a true list of the most affordable online colleges in their state.
College Graduate Outlook in Arkansas
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Job Outlook for College Graduates in Arkansas
Earning a college degree in any state increases an individual's earning potential in most fields. The average mean salary across all recognized professions in Arkansas is $45,530 annually. People who earn an online college degree in Arkansas often see their mean annual salary rise. For example, management professionals earn an average salary of $89,130 and professionals in engineering earn approximately $69,540 per year. With only a 3.8% unemployment rate in Arkansas, the career outlook is promising for college graduates of all levels in this state.When searching for a career in Arkansas, it may be beneficial to look into some of the biggest industries in the state, such as agriculture, transportation, logistics, food production and manufacture, and timber/paper products. Examples of careers in these fields include general and operations management, farming and ranching, agricultural engineering, and soil and plant science. While bachelor's and master's degree-holders may have access to more roles, careers in these industries may also be accessible to students who have an associate degree from an online community college in Arkansas.