Top Online Schools and Best Value Schools (ROI) in Arkansas

As one of the member states of the Southern Regional Education Board, the state works proactively and closely with schools, colleges, universities and government sectors to continuously find ways to improve education in Arkansas. In 2013, the state approved the Digital Learning Act, providing standards around online courses for distance learners K-12 participating in online education. The rationale behind emphasizing primary and secondary education is that it prepares and develops students for greater excellence in a post-secondary academic environment.

The state’s investment in distance learning also covers online colleges and universities in Arkansas. Furthermore, the state has allocated funds to support online learning programs and standards to improve course offerings available to students throughout Arkansas.

By 2020, almost 60% of Arkansas occupations must require job applicants to have some form of higher education. As a result, the emergence of top online schools offering high-quality online degree programs in Arkansas help both in-state and out-of-state students earn their degrees due to the program’s accessibility, convenience, and flexibility.

METHODOLOGY

To give college students a glimpse of the best online schools to choose in the State, the researchers and writers at OnlineSchoolsCenter.com have created a list of the 5 Top Online Schools in Arkansas. This list presents the best possible choices for prospective college students who are interested in web-based education and earn a degree:

Commitment to providing high-quality learning using the best virtual education platforms that provide students ease of access to their online coursework,
Student-to-faculty ratio that allows for a more focused and student-centered instruction from competent teachers,
Extensive online program curricula and rigorous coursework that enables students to become adequately prepared and highly skilled for their job,
High student satisfaction.

To learn about our ranking process, visit our Methodology Page.

University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas delivers minors, eight bachelor’s, 22 master’s, four doctoral, various specialist, and several licensure degree programs, all offered online. The areas of study for undergraduate degree programs include business administration, nursing, education, and liberal arts. Students may also choose among 17 certifications offered by the public university, most concentrated in education, project management, business, and psychology.

The majority of undergraduate programs require 120-credit hours for completion. Professors deliver the set of coursework in a completely online format. UofA online students utilize the Blackboard Learn platform as their course management system, allowing them to access projects, assignments, and courses in the comfort of their own home. Also, the university offers a Self-Paced Online Course (SPOC), allowing students to take courses that run about 12 weeks. Most courses are delivered in an asynchronous format.

The tuition rate is $312.83/credit hour for in-state enrollees and $862.42/credit hour for out-of-state students.

Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas

Admission Requirements:

3.0 GPA or higher
SAT and ACT scores

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Arkansas Tech University

Arkansas Tech University has a wide selection of online degrees offered through the College of eTech, Arkansas Tech’s online hub for online resources and online training/degree programs. Undergraduates can choose from more than 20 different programs, including bachelor’s degrees in business administration, nursing, applied science, criminal justice, and history programs. Graduates may pursue nine different master’s degrees online in specific areas of study, such as education, business administration, nursing, and criminal justice.

The majority of the programs require 120-credit hours for completion. Graduation requirements and program length vary for each program. All courses are taken and completed through Blackboard Learn. Also, distance learners have access to the Virtual Training Center, a platform that contains free training for hundreds of current software applications.

Arkansas Tech University facilitates meeting over the web every two weeks through the Adult and Online Student Organization, helping ATU distance learners in their academic and professional ventures.

In-state tuition is $696.00/credit hour and $1392.00/credit hour for out-of-state enrollees.

Location: Russelville, Arkansas

Admission Requirements:

GPA: 3.0 or Higher
Standardized Tests: ACT and SAT

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

University of Central Arkansas

The University of Central Arkansas features 29 online degree programs ranging from certifications, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and doctoral degrees to specialty programs. Undergraduate students select from online degree programs in different areas of study, such as business administration, general studies, and nursing. Opportunities for students who want to pursue graduate studies include education and business administration areas of study.

Admission Requirements include an SAT or ACT score and a minimum GPA of 3.0. The set of coursework at UCA are accessible any time of the day or night from anywhere with internet connectivity, enabling students to earn their degrees at their own pace and flexibility. The majority of the undergraduate programs require 120-credit hours for completion. Distance learners have access to 24/7 technical support while studying and completing their courses through the Blackboard Learn platform.

UCA offers flat-rate tuition of $285/credit hour for all its online degree programs, varying from each level of study.

Location: Conway, Arkansas

Admission Requirements:

GPA: 3.0 or Higher
SAT or ACT scores:

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Arkansas State University

Students will find a variety of online degree programs at Arkansas State University. Online students may choose from many undergraduate and graduate programs in different areas of study, including criminology, business administration, digital innovation, applied science, political science, sociology, and communication studies. Other unique major fields include media management, sports administration, public administration, and strategic communications. Furthermore, the university has an accelerated RN-to-BSN track that students can earn in 12 months or less.

The majority of the online undergraduate programs are in an asynchronous format and don’t require face-to-face requirements. Most degree programs require 120-credit hours or more; however, distance learners obtain their degrees in less than four years due to the flexibility and self-paced availability offered by the university. Also, the school has multiple start dates throughout the school year, allowing students to start anytime they want.

Arkansas State University offers flat-rate tuition of $248.25 for all in-state students and out-of-state students.

Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas

Admission Requirements:

Admission Requirements
GPA: 2.75 or Higher

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Southern Arkansas University

Southern Arkansas University provides numerous online degree programs for undergraduate and graduate students. Online undergraduate degree programs include management, and RN-to-BSN completion programs. Graduate students may choose from a total of 21 online master’s degrees, with areas of study in business administration, computer science, education, agriculture, and mental health counseling.

Competency-based distance learning focuses on personalized learning. Distance learners complete a set of coursework asynchronously, enabling them to earn their degrees ahead of time. Bachelor’s degree programs require 120-credit hours of coursework for completion and take four years or less to complete. On the other hand, master’s degree programs require 30-50-credit hours of coursework and usually take two or more years to obtain.

Southern Arkansas University offers student support services to enhance their educational experience, providing distance learners the accessibility to Employment Resources, Student Support Services, Magale Library, Disability Support Services, and connected experience with an academic advisor.

Location: Magnolia, Arkansas

Admission Requirements:

GPA 2.0 out of a 4.0 scale
Standardized Tests: ACT or SAT

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

For prospective students identifying colleges in Arkansas, the state has more than 40 colleges and universities to choose from, the majority of which offer distance learning programs to appeal to a more diverse group of college students. Enrollment in business administration programs in Arkansas are rising, and more Arkansas academic institutions are offering online programs to address local job shortages in highly-educated fields such as management and healthcare.

Students interested in obtaining a degree in one of the online schools in Arkansas, must research and find answers to their questions on online tuition costs and financial aid. You also need to explore the affordable and quality colleges and universities in Arkansas that are offering distance education for prospective students who need more affordability in their chosen school.

The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services has projected its latest findings, stating that half of Arkansas’ fastest-growing occupations require a college education. Therefore, affordability in the online programs around Arkansas will significantly help both in-state and out-of-state students obtain these career opportunities due to the online program’s affordability, accessibility, convenience, and flexibility. Distance education has made higher learning more affordable and accessible than ever before. Students can balance their personal and professional obligations while earning their degrees online.

Moreover, Arkansas has membership in the Southern Regional Education Board, which utilizes the ACM to reduce tuition expenses for college students residing in its 16 member states. Out-of-state eligible students pay in-state tuition rates. However, some academic institutions participate in the ACM at the graduate-level only, where out-of-state undergraduate students pay out-of-state tuition fees.