Q: What are the best online colleges in Arkansas?

A: Arkansas is home to over forty institutions of higher learning, but only some of them have prioritized online learning. An online degree should provide the same level of academics and networking as a traditional college experience, the only thing missing is living in the dormitories, which many students would be happy to forgo. College rankings are based on a wide range of data sets that are then compiled into a singular list, but knowing what factors are the most important to you will allow you to make a more informed decision into how to invest your time and money into a degree. If you are looking to start your undergrad career it would be prudent to look at freshman retention rates. If you are going back to school to complete a degree or certification that will advance your career, you should prioritize professional job placement. If you will have to apply for student loans and are worried about the fiscal investment, you should calculate tuition costs and credit value. Among online colleges in Arkansas, most students will be picking from the major state schools, like University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University, though Arkansas has an impressive amount of lesser-known schools that have impressive online academies, like Harding University, Ecclesia College, and John Brown University. Here is OnlineCollegePlan’s list of top 100 best online colleges.

The University of Arkansas was founded in 1871, and has highly regarded programs for law, creative writing, business, agriculture, Middle Eastern Studies and architecture. The university is highly regarded among its students, receiving an A grade from Niche.com’s composite student satisfaction grade, it’s lowest marks coming in its grades for dorms, safety, and campus food, none of which would concern an online learner. They offer five undergraduate degrees that can be completed online: Communication, Interdisciplinary Studies, Business Administration, Education in Human Resource and Workforce Development, and Nursing. They offer twenty different Master’s degrees, including Master of Business Administration, Master of Engineering, and Master of Social Work. They even offer four PhD programs that can be completed online: Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Doctor of Education in Adult and Lifelong Learning, Educational Leadership, and Human Resource and Workforce Development Education. The University of Arkansas an option for students in all different stages of their academic careers.

Arkansas State University was established in 1909, and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System. Arkansas State University offers eight different online Bachelor degrees for undergraduate students, including Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and Bachelor of Applied Science. The university offers thirteen different Masters programs, including Master of Educational Leadership, Master of Public Administration, and Master of Engineering Management, all with the competitive rate of $294 per credit hour, making Arkansas University an affordable option for graduate degrees among online colleges in Arkansas. The university also offers post-graduate degrees for students that are looking to specializing in Education, as well as many other certificate programs to ensure high-quality job placement upon graduation.