There are 89 colleges in Arkansas - 36 public and 53 private schools. At Arkansas colleges, rising college costs are evident in the Cost of Attendance (COA), which combines tuition, fees, textbooks, room and board, and personal living expenses; this figure has grown significantly in the last decade.
The total Cost of Attendance has increased substantially at Arkansas colleges:
Tuition and fees saw dramatic increases across institution types:
| Institution Type | 10-Year Increase (2016-2025) | 2025 Average Tuition & Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Public, In-State | 23.90% (from $7,339 to $9,093) | $9,093 |
| Public, Out-of-State | 11.99% (from $14,468 to $16,203) | $16,203 |
| Private Colleges | 12.83% (from $18,823 to $21,238) | $21,238 |
Note on Degrees: Undergraduate tuition & fees increased by 11.99%, while graduate program tuition & fees increased by 15.51% over the same period.
Over the past 10 years, the COA has increased 21.62% when living on campus and 21.61% when living off campus at Arkansas Colleges.
In private Arkansas Colleges, the COA has increase by 20.78% (on-campus) and 20.79% (off-camus). The COA includes tuition, fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other personal expenses.
For the academic year 2024-2025, the total cost of attendance is $32,510 when a student lives on campus and $33,497 when living off campus at Arkansas Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of COA for Arkansas Colleges over the past 10 years.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | |
| 2015-16 | $19,602 | $26,731 | $31,086 | $20,415 | $27,544 | $31,899 |
| 2016-17 | $20,202 3.06% | $27,583 3.19% | $32,444 4.37% | $20,972 2.73% | $28,353 2.94% | $33,214 4.12% |
| 2017-18 | $20,712 2.52% | $27,818 0.85% | $33,148 2.17% | $21,282 1.48% | $28,388 0.12% | $33,718 1.52% |
| 2018-19 | $20,924 1.02% | $28,164 1.24% | $32,567 -1.75% | $21,549 1.25% | $28,789 1.41% | $33,192 -1.56% |
| 2019-20 | $21,660 3.52% | $29,094 3.30% | $33,815 3.83% | $22,292 3.45% | $29,726 3.25% | $34,447 3.78% |
| 2020-21 | $21,762 0.47% | $28,514 -1.99% | $34,824 2.98% | $22,205 -0.39% | $28,957 -2.59% | $35,267 2.38% |
| 2021-22 | $22,184 1.94% | $29,021 1.78% | $34,289 -1.54% | $22,600 1.78% | $29,437 1.66% | $34,705 -1.59% |
| 2022-23 | $24,266 9.39% | $31,758 9.43% | $35,056 2.24% | $24,710 9.34% | $32,202 9.39% | $35,500 2.29% |
| 2023-24 | $25,594 5.47% | $32,647 2.80% | $35,994 2.68% | $26,073 5.52% | $33,126 2.87% | $36,473 2.74% |
| 2024-25 | $25,400 -0.76% | $32,510 -0.42% | $37,545 4.31% | $26,387 1.20% | $33,497 1.12% | $38,532 5.65% |
For the current year (2025), the average tuition & fees for Arkansas Colleges is $11,442 for Arkansas residents and $18,552 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average tuition & fees is $22,374.
For graduate programs, the 2025 average graduate tuition & fees is $10,143 for Arkansas residents and $15,996 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average graduate program tuition & fees is $16,107.
The tuition & fees has increased 11.99% for undergraduate programs and 15.51% for graduate programs at Arkansas Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of tuition & fees by tuition rates and degrees.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | |
| 2015-16 | $7,339 | $14,468 | $18,823 | $6,697 | $12,431 | $18,434 |
| 2016-17 | $7,633 4.01% | $15,014 3.77% | $19,875 5.59% | $7,191 7.38% | $13,222 6.36% | $19,219 4.26% |
| 2017-18 | $7,903 3.54% | $15,009 -0.03% | $20,339 2.33% | $7,192 0.01% | $12,965 -1.94% | $20,078 4.47% |
| 2018-19 | $8,121 2.76% | $15,361 2.35% | $19,764 -2.83% | $7,434 3.36% | $13,309 2.65% | $20,456 1.88% |
| 2019-20 | $8,406 3.51% | $15,840 3.12% | $20,561 4.03% | $7,606 2.31% | $13,507 1.49% | $22,597 10.47% |
| 2020-21 | $7,967 -5.22% | $14,719 -7.08% | $21,029 2.28% | $7,702 1.26% | $13,662 1.15% | $21,248 -5.97% |
| 2021-22 | $8,050 1.04% | $14,887 1.14% | $20,155 -4.16% | $7,759 0.74% | $13,797 0.99% | $19,222 -9.54% |
| 2022-23 | $9,792 21.64% | $17,284 16.10% | $20,582 2.12% | $7,829 0.90% | $13,597 -1.45% | $19,756 2.78% |
| 2023-24 | $10,261 4.79% | $17,314 0.17% | $20,661 0.38% | $8,638 10.33% | $13,933 2.47% | $15,699 -20.54% |
| 2024-25 | $9,093 -11.38% | $16,203 -6.42% | $21,238 2.79% | $8,506 -1.53% | $14,359 3.06% | $15,804 0.67% |
For the current year (2025), the average book & supplies costs is $1,267 for Arkansas Colleges. The following table shows the changes of book & supplies costs from year 2016 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies |
|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,204 |
| 2016-17 | $1,203 -0.08% |
| 2017-18 | $1,194 -0.75% |
| 2018-19 | $1,226 2.68% |
| 2019-20 | $1,236 0.82% |
| 2020-21 | $1,420 14.89% |
| 2021-22 | $1,455 2.46% |
| 2022-23 | $1,230 -15.46% |
| 2023-24 | $1,226 -0.33% |
| 2024-25 | $1,267 3.34% |
For Arkansas Colleges, the living have increased 18.63% when a student lives on campus facilities and 19.29% when living off campus from year 2016 to 2025. The living costs includes costs for room & board, and other living expenses.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $11,059 | $11,758 |
| 2016-17 | $11,366 4.14% | $12,114 2.87% |
| 2017-18 | $11,615 2.33% | $12,281 0.82% |
| 2018-19 | $11,577 0.48% | $12,161 2.22% |
| 2019-20 | $12,018 3.13% | $12,482 4.69% |
| 2020-21 | $12,375 2.86% | $12,790 1.15% |
| 2021-22 | $12,679 1.96% | $13,065 1.98% |
| 2022-23 | $13,244 2.64% | $13,742 1.66% |
| 2023-24 | $14,107 6.81% | $14,735 5.78% |
| 2024-25 | $15,040 3.58% | $15,683 8.90% |