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Most affordable private colleges in Arkansas

13 private colleges in Arkansas report net price data, ranging from $11,047 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $17,266. Arkansas's private colleges cost about the same as the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.

Median net price in Arkansas

$17,266

National median for private colleges

$15,832

private colleges reporting in Arkansas

13

The most affordable private colleges in Arkansas, ranked by net price

1

Net price

$11,047

Receive grant aid

99%

2

Philander Smith University

AR

Net price

$14,986

Receive grant aid

89%

3

Champion Christian College

AR

Net price

$15,392

Receive grant aid

96%

4

University of the Ozarks

AR

Net price

$16,651

Receive grant aid

100%

5

Williams Baptist University

AR

Net price

$16,658

Receive grant aid

100%

6

Net price

$16,672

Receive grant aid

100%

7

Crowley's Ridge College

AR

Net price

$17,266

Receive grant aid

100%

8

Harding University

AR

Net price

$21,069

Receive grant aid

98%

9

John Brown University

AR

Net price

$21,464

Receive grant aid

99%

10

Ouachita Baptist University

AR

Net price

$22,087

Receive grant aid

100%

11

Lyon College

AR

Net price

$22,675

Receive grant aid

100%

12

Hendrix College

AR

Net price

$24,236

Receive grant aid

100%

13

Ecclesia College

AR

Net price

$24,610

Receive grant aid

100%

What makes a school affordable here

In Arkansas, the most affordable private colleges share two things in common. First, low published net prices reflect both reasonable sticker prices and meaningful institutional or state aid. Second, a high share of students receive grant aid. At Arkansas Baptist College, the most affordable on this list, 99% of students receive grant aid. Net price reflects what a typical family actually pays, not the sticker price you see at first glance. A school with a $50,000 sticker price and a $10,000 net price is more affordable for most families than a school with a $20,000 sticker and a $19,000 net price.

Affordable colleges in Arkansas, other types

Affordable private colleges in other states

Find your personalized cost

National rankings use publicly available federal cost data. Plug in your actual aid offer and family situation for a Worth-It Score that reflects your specific picture.

Affordability rankings use publicly available federal higher-ed cost data. Net price reflects the average cost a family pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total cost of attendance, for the 2022-23 reporting year. See full methodology →