University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of Arkansas at a Glance
The University of Arkansas is a public land-grant research university in Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System. Founded as Arkansas Industrial University in 1871, classes were first held in 1872, with its present name adopted in 1899.
1871
155 years old
$1.8B
$1.81 billion (2025)
34,174
29,260 undergrad · 4,915 grad
1,490
412 acres
Identity
How to Apply to University of Arkansas
Official admissions page$40
Fee waiver available
Testing policy
Fee waiver
Is University of Arkansas Worth It?
University of Arkansas offers moderate value at $18,209/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $58,191, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.3 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 70% graduation rate means roughly 30% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How University of Arkansas compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #19 of 40 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 100 | $11,531 | $71,902 |
| #2 | Florida Atlantic University | 100 | $8,752 | $56,746 |
| #3 | CUNY Queens College | 100 | $4,195 | $62,763 |
| #4 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #5 | University of California-Riverside | 90 | $14,304 | $67,699 |
| #6 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 78 | $15,300 | $63,126 |
| #19 | University of Arkansas | 56 | $18,209 | $58,191 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of Arkansas's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at University of Arkansas
The highest-earning program at University of Arkansas is Chemical Engineering at $74,300/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Anthropology at $18,900/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Chemical Engineering graduate from University of Arkansas earns $74,300, while a Anthropology graduate earns $18,900. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Chemical Engineering graduates carry $16,560 in median debt vs. $25,266 for Anthropology.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $18,209/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Engineering | $74,300 | $74,300 | $16,560 |
| Computer Engineering | $68,700 | $68,700 | $21,221 |
| Industrial Engineering | $68,300 | $68,300 | $24,000 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $67,700 | $67,700 | $22,875 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $63,600 | $63,600 | $25,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $59,000 | $59,000 | $18,750 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $58,800 | $58,800 | $21,500 |
| Civil Engineering | $55,600 | $55,600 | $27,000 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $55,200 | $55,200 | $24,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $50,800 | $50,800 | $20,424 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $48,800 | $48,800 | $19,735 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $48,400 | $48,400 | $21,500 |
| Marketing | $45,200 | $45,200 | $22,500 |
| International Business | $44,300 | $44,300 | $15,000 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $42,900 | $42,900 | $20,247 |
| Architecture | $42,000 | $42,000 | $30,937 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $40,700 | $40,700 | $23,400 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $40,500 | $40,500 | $20,000 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $40,100 | $40,100 | $16,571 |
| Economics | $39,900 | $39,900 | $24,500 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $36,200 | $36,200 | $15,000 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $35,800 | $35,800 | $21,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $35,000 | $35,000 | $21,342 |
| Journalism | $33,300 | $33,300 | $24,187 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $33,300 | $33,300 | $21,739 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $33,200 | $33,200 | $23,919 |
| Political Science and Government | $32,800 | $32,800 | $24,250 |
| Animal Sciences | $31,700 | $31,700 | $18,598 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $30,900 | $30,900 | $22,381 |
| Music | $30,900 | $30,900 | $24,249 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $30,700 | $30,700 | $20,304 |
| Sociology | $30,400 | $30,400 | $22,554 |
| Psychology, General | $29,500 | $29,500 | $22,788 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $29,000 | $29,000 | $22,250 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $28,100 | $28,100 | $23,437 |
| Social Work | $27,700 | $27,700 | $20,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $27,100 | $27,100 | $20,159 |
| Public Health | $26,400 | $26,400 | $23,250 |
| History | $26,200 | $26,200 | $23,250 |
| Biology, General | $26,000 | $26,000 | $21,500 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $26,000 | $26,000 | $21,300 |
| Education, General | $25,700 | $25,700 | $24,188 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $25,600 | $25,600 | $22,249 |
| Anthropology | $18,900 | $18,900 | $25,266 |
Similar Colleges in AR
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Fayetteville, AR
- Student Body
- 28,677 students
- Admission Rate
- 74%
- Graduation Rate
- 70%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $18,209
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $58,191
- Median Student Debt
- $21,500