Find Trade Colleges
2026 Best Trade Schools in Arkansas
Looking for the best Trade degree programs in Arkansas? Our ranking highlights 80 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Trade College evaluated 66 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Trade Degree Schools in Arkansas
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found Arkansas State University Main Campus to be the best Trade school in Arkansas. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a public school based in Jonesboro, AR. Arkansas State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Typical Trade student debt is $23,399. Get the full Arkansas State University Main Campus report
The strong Trade programs at Arkansas State University Newport earned it the #2 place in Arkansas. Arkansas State University Newport is a public school based in Newport, AR. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,312, with out-of-state students paying around $4,752. Arkansas State University Newport Trade students take on a median of $10,925 in debt. More on Arkansas State University Newport
A rank of #3 makes Northwest Arkansas Community College one of the top choices in Arkansas. Based in Bentonville, AR, Northwest Arkansas Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,342, with out-of-state students paying around $5,238. Northwest Arkansas Community College Trade students take on a median of $12,479 in debt. Read the full report on Northwest Arkansas Community College
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock came in at #4 on this year's Trade ranking in Arkansas. Based in Little Rock, AR, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a public institution. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $9,911 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,721. Graduates carry a median of $27,093 in student loans. Read more about University Of Arkansas At Little Rock
Out of the 66 schools in Arkansas in this year's ranking, College Of The Ouachitas landed the #5 spot. Set in Malvern, AR, College Of The Ouachitas is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,788, with out-of-state students paying around $4,388. More on College Of The Ouachitas
Arkansas Tech University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Located in Russellville, AR, Arkansas Tech University is a public institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,674, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. The median Trade program debt is $23,257. Get the full Arkansas Tech University report
Pulaski Technical College did well this year, earning the #7 position. Set in North Little Rock, AR, Pulaski Technical College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,300, with out-of-state students paying around $9,450. Pulaski Technical College Trade students take on a median of $15,043 in debt. Read the full report on Pulaski Technical College
South Arkansas Community College placed #8 among Trade schools in Arkansas. South Arkansas Community College is a public school based in El Dorado, AR. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,324, compared with $5,532 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,386 to complete their Trade program here. Read more about South Arkansas Community College
University Of Central Arkansas came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Located in Conway, AR, University Of Central Arkansas is a public institution. University Of Central Arkansas graduates 53% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,523, while out-of-state students pay about $18,023. University Of Central Arkansas Trade students take on a median of $22,920 in debt. See the full University Of Central Arkansas profile
National Park Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Set in Hot Springs, AR, National Park Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,600, with out-of-state students paying around $7,280. Students borrow a median of $14,162 to complete their Trade program here. Read the full report on National Park Community College
Black River Technical College placed #11 among Trade schools in Arkansas. Located in Pocahontas, AR, Black River Technical College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,776, compared with $7,488 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $12,420 in student loans. Read more about Black River Technical College
University Of Arkansas Fort Smith ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. This public school is set in Fort Smith, AR. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates 38% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,334, while out-of-state students pay about $12,182. The median Trade program debt is $20,333. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas Fort Smith
University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville placed #13 among Trade schools in Arkansas. This public school is set in Batesville, AR. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,630, compared with $4,662 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,265 to complete their Trade program here. More on University Of Arkansas Community College Batesville
Rich Mountain Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Set in Mena, AR, Rich Mountain Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,696, compared with $4,272 for out-of-state students. Get the full Rich Mountain Community College report
University Of Arkansas At Monticello placed #15 among Trade schools in Arkansas. Located in Monticello, AR, University Of Arkansas At Monticello is a public institution. Roughly 38% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,292, with out-of-state students paying around $14,857. Graduates carry a median of $15,611 in student loans. Read more about University Of Arkansas At Monticello
North Arkansas College placed #16 among Trade schools in Arkansas. Based in Harrison, AR, North Arkansas College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,504, with out-of-state students paying around $5,592. Graduates carry a median of $10,645 in student loans. Read more about North Arkansas College
Arkansas Northeastern College landed the #17 spot in Arkansas this year. This public school is set in Blytheville, AR. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,570, with out-of-state students paying around $4,250. Arkansas Northeastern College Trade students take on a median of $7,944 in debt. Read more about Arkansas Northeastern College
Southern Arkansas University Tech placed #18 among Trade schools in Arkansas. Located in Camden, AR, Southern Arkansas University Tech is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, compared with $6,480 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $8,488 in student loans. Get the full Southern Arkansas University Tech report
Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Based in Helena, AR, Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,380, with out-of-state students paying around $4,550. Typical Trade student debt is $5,500. See the full Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas profile
Arkansas State University Mountain Home did well this year, earning the #20 position. Set in Mountain Home, AR, Arkansas State University Mountain Home is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,312, while out-of-state students pay about $4,776. Graduates carry a median of $18,097 in student loans. Read more about Arkansas State University Mountain Home
Arkansas State University Beebe landed the #21 spot in Arkansas this year. Arkansas State University Beebe is a public school based in Beebe, AR. Students from in state pay about $3,336 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,232 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $9,350 in student loans. More on Arkansas State University Beebe
University Of Arkansas Community College Hope landed the #22 spot in Arkansas this year. More on University Of Arkansas Community College Hope
Ouachita Baptist University placed #23 among Trade schools in Arkansas. See the full Ouachita Baptist University profile
River Valley School Of Massage landed the #24 spot in Arkansas this year. Read more about River Valley School Of Massage
Designer Barber And Stylist School Fort Smith ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about Designer Barber And Stylist School Fort Smith
Rest of the Top 50 Best Trade Degree Schools in Arkansas
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #26 position. Read more about Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Arkansas Welding Academy came in at #27 in this year's ranking. Read more about Arkansas Welding Academy
Central Baptist College came in at #28 in this year's ranking. More on Central Baptist College
John Brown University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about John Brown University
Crowleys Ridge College did well this year, earning the #30 position. Read the full report on Crowleys Ridge College
Imagine Paul Mitchell Partner School came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Read more about Imagine Paul Mitchell Partner School
Champion Christian College landed the #32 spot in Arkansas this year. Read the full report on Champion Christian College
University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences came in at #33 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Arkansas For Medical Sciences
Hendrix College
Hendrix College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. More on Hendrix College
Ecclesia College
Ecclesia College landed the #35 spot in Arkansas this year. More on Ecclesia College
Arkansas State University System Office placed #36 among Trade schools in Arkansas. Read the full report on Arkansas State University System Office
Arthurs Beauty School Inc Conway landed the #37 spot in Arkansas this year. Read more about Arthurs Beauty School Inc Conway
Velvatex College Of Beauty Culture landed the #38 spot in Arkansas this year. See the full Velvatex College Of Beauty Culture profile
Henderson State University landed the #39 spot in Arkansas this year. Read the full report on Henderson State University
Hot Springs Beauty College came in at #40 in this year's ranking. See the full Hot Springs Beauty College profile
University Of Arkansas came in at #41 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Arkansas
University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton came in at #42 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Arkansas Community College Morrilton profile
Cossatot Community College Of The University Of Arkansas placed #43 among Trade schools in Arkansas. Get the full Cossatot Community College Of The University Of Arkansas report
Jackson Theological Seminary ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. See the full Jackson Theological Seminary profile
Williams Baptist College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Get the full Williams Baptist College report
Grantham University landed the #46 spot in Arkansas this year. Read more about Grantham University
Arkansas Beauty School Little Rock came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Get the full Arkansas Beauty School Little Rock report
Strayer University Arkansas ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Get the full Strayer University Arkansas report
University Of The Ozarks ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about University Of The Ozarks
Professional Cosmetology Education Center came in at #50 in this year's ranking. Get the full Professional Cosmetology Education Center report
More Trade Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 66 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 80 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.