Best colleges for art and design in Arkansas
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in art or design, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for art and design in Arkansas17 schools
17 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Arkansas.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in art or design, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Hendrix College
Conway, AR · Private nonprofit#1 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 2
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR · Private nonprofit#2 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 3
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR · Public#3 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 4
Harding University
Searcy, AR · Private nonprofit#4 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 5
Ouachita Baptist University
Arkadelphia, AR · Private nonprofit#5 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B
- 6
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Monticello, AR · Public#6 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 7
Arkansas State University
Jonesboro, AR · PublicTop 23% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 39%
- 8
University of the Ozarks
Clarksville, AR · Private nonprofit#8 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B
- 9
University of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR · Public#9 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 10
Lyon College
Batesville, AR · Private nonprofit#10 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 11
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Little Rock, AR · Public#11 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B
- 12
Arkansas Tech University
Russellville, AR · PublicTop 25% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 44%
- 13
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Magnolia, AR · Public#13 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 41%
- 14
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff, AR · PublicTop 24% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 15
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 30%
- 16
Henderson State University
Arkadelphia, AR · Public#19 in Arkansas
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 17
Williams Baptist University
Walnut Ridge, AR · Private nonprofitSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hendrix College | About $24,000 | $26,688 | $60,376 | 72% |
| John Brown University | About $20,000 | $21,250 | $53,907 | 72% |
| University of Arkansas | About $18,000 | $21,500 | $58,191 | 71% |
| Harding University | About $22,000 | $26,500 | $52,876 | 69% |
| Ouachita Baptist University | About $22,000 | $21,050 | $51,673 | 61% |
| University of Arkansas at Monticello | About $14,000 | $19,971 | $36,902 | 49% |
| Arkansas State University | About $12,000 | $20,500 | $42,617 | 55% |
| University of the Ozarks | About $17,000 | $20,875 | $44,384 | 51% |
| University of Central Arkansas | About $17,000 | $20,346 | $45,938 | 54% |
| Lyon College | About $20,000 | $21,500 | $44,232 | 47% |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | About $17,000 | $22,000 | $45,265 | 42% |
| Arkansas Tech University | About $13,000 | $21,000 | $41,766 | 49% |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | About $14,000 | $18,750 | $42,386 | 49% |
| University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | About $13,000 | $24,202 | $35,550 | 40% |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | About $11,000 | $18,250 | $41,102 | 38% |
| Henderson State University | About $23,000 | $19,500 | $43,459 | 37% |
| Williams Baptist University | About $16,000 | $21,820 | $38,484 | 26% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 19
- Alaska 3
- Arizona 8
- California 75
- Colorado 15
- Connecticut 21
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 7
- Florida 29
- Georgia 32
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 47
- Indiana 36
- Iowa 24
- Kansas 21
- Kentucky 22
- Louisiana 16
- Maine 13
- Maryland 20
- Massachusetts 44
- Michigan 30
- Minnesota 30
- Mississippi 7
- Missouri 32
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 15
- Nevada 4
- New Hampshire 8
- New Jersey 26
- New Mexico 6
- New York 85
- North Carolina 39
- North Dakota 5
- Ohio 59
- Oklahoma 15
- Oregon 14
- Pennsylvania 74
- Puerto Rico 17
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 25
- South Dakota 9
- Tennessee 27
- Texas 54
- Utah 8
- Vermont 8
- Virginia 33
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 11
- Wisconsin 29