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Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2023
Questions & Answers
What do all these numbers mean?
All costs shown here are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket for one year at the college in question. Net cost is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Figures are based on data from the 2020-21 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2023.
What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for one year at that particular college. It includes:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
There are detailed chart below for each school that shows these expenses. Click here to go to the individual cost breakdown for schools.
How can I use this information?
This information is useful for building a realistic college budget. It's a good place to start until you better understand your specific circumstances. For example, let's say your income is $100,000 per year. This chart shows that the average state school would run $17,279 and the average private school would be $17,769. You can also get information on specific Arkansas schools in the chart above or the tables below.
Will my family pay the amount on this chart?
Probably not. The numbers are averages. You may be below average or above average. However, there are two key points we can learn from this data:
- Families with higher incomes ($75,000-$110,000 and $110,000+) will most likely pay close to full price at the public schools.
- Private colleges have a higher list price but offer more discounts. This brings their net price much closer to the cost of state-funded schools.
Where did this information come from?
As part of federal financial aid, colleges are required to provide detailed cost information to the U.S. government. This data is made available to the public through the National Center for Education Statistics. For more details, click here.
What about athletes, merit aid or minority students?
Athletes, high achieving students, and those with minority status are averaged in with everyone else. Within each income bracket, there are families that pay more than average and families that pay less than average.
The costs on this chart seem large. How can families afford to pay it?
For many families paying for college is not easy, but in the end they figure out. Most families will pay their net cost of college with some combination of:
- College savings and investments
- Payments from current income
- Loans
- Outside scholarships (check out the Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents to learn how your student can win scholarships)
- Tax planning
- Student work
Net Price:
Net prices is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus the average amount in government grants and institutional scholarships the school awards. This is an average, so you may pay above the average or below the average. Your exact net price is likely to be different and sometimes drastically different.
Most families will pay the net price with some combination of savings and investments, current income and various loans. Some students will also receive scholarships from sources other than the federal or state government or the college. Any scholarships and grants from these outside sources are not included in the data. However, government grants and institutional scholarships are included in the averages.
| Total Cost at University of Arkansas (2020-21) | |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $9,384 |
| Room and Board | $11,330 |
| Books | $1,100 |
| Other Expenses | $4,362 |
| Total | $26,176 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2020-21 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2023. Total costs include:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
| College Total Cost | ||
|---|---|---|
| Family Income | AR Public $23,489 | AR Private $35,400 |
| $0 - $30k | $12,419 | $25,611 |
| $30,001 – $48k | $13,092 | $14,212 |
| $48,001 – $75k | $15,261 | $16,310 |
| $75,001 – $110k | $17,279 | $17,769 |
| $110,001+ | $16,984 | $19,295 |
Public vs. Private Averages
This table shows the average total cost of attendance for the Arkansas public and private colleges we have included in our analysis. The costs include a breakdown of the average net price paid by family income. Notice that the average private college is $1,000-$14,000 more than the average public school, depending on your income bracket. It is important to stress that these are averages. Most families will not be average, and their individual circumstances could be drastically different. I encourage all families to work with their preferred colleges to get information specific to their family.
Below are similar charts for each individual private and public college in Arkansas. Click a school to view its complete chart.
Public AR Schools Cost Breakdown
-
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Little Rock Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,366 $8,366 Room and Board $9,162 $9,162 Books $1,250 $1,250 Other Expenses $6,059 $6,059 Total $24,837 $24,837 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,093 $14,093 $30,001 - $48k $15,442 $15,442 $48,001 - $75k $18,265 $18,265 $75,001 - $110k $19,969 $19,969 $110,001+ $20,260 $20,260 -
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $9,384 $9,574 Room and Board $11,330 $11,942 Books $1,100 $1,100 Other Expenses $4,362 $4,362 Total $26,176 $26,978 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,914 $11,248 $30,001 - $48k $11,538 $11,892 $48,001 - $75k $14,417 $14,859 $75,001 - $110k $18,076 $18,630 $110,001+ $18,978 $19,559 -
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,248 $8,398 Room and Board $8,472 $8,624 Books $1,000 $1,120 Other Expenses $3,544 $3,606 Total $21,264 $21,748 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,141 $10,372 $30,001 - $48k $10,177 $10,409 $48,001 - $75k $12,245 $12,524 $75,001 - $110k $13,759 $14,072 $110,001+ $12,732 $13,022 -
Arkansas State University-Main Campus
Jonesboro Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $7,315 $7,130 Room and Board $10,022 $9,640 Books $1,250 $1,250 Other Expenses $4,708 $4,633 Total $23,295 $22,653 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,730 $10,434 $30,001 - $48k $12,021 $11,690 $48,001 - $75k $14,218 $13,826 $75,001 - $110k $16,163 $15,718 $110,001+ $16,837 $16,373
-
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Monticello Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $7,909 $8,029 Room and Board $7,058 $7,148 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,826 $3,826 Total $19,993 $20,203 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,509 $11,630 $30,001 - $48k $12,176 $12,304 $48,001 - $75k $13,492 $13,634 $75,001 - $110k $15,843 $16,009 $110,001+ $13,865 $14,011 -
University of Central Arkansas
Conway Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $9,338 $9,563 Room and Board $7,554 $7,896 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,851 $4,992 Total $21,943 $23,651 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,358 $13,320 $30,001 - $48k $13,336 $14,374 $48,001 - $75k $14,940 $16,103 $75,001 - $110k $17,081 $18,411 $110,001+ $17,399 $18,753 -
Henderson State University
Arkadelphia Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $7,392 $7,560 Room and Board $9,200 $9,558 Books $2,500 $2,598 Other Expenses $7,100 $7,378 Total $26,192 $27,094 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,948 $15,463 $30,001 - $48k $14,657 $15,162 $48,001 - $75k $18,359 $18,991 $75,001 - $110k $19,822 $20,505 $110,001+ $17,907 $18,524 -
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Magnolia Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $9,080 $9,410 Room and Board $7,418 $7,595 Books $1,600 $1,600 Other Expenses $6,112 $6,177 Total $24,210 $24,782 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,660 $15,006 $30,001 - $48k $15,388 $15,752 $48,001 - $75k $16,153 $16,535 $75,001 - $110k $17,522 $17,936 $110,001+ $17,894 $18,317
Private AR Schools Cost Breakdown
-
Arkansas Baptist College
Little Rock Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,760 $8,760 Room and Board $8,826 $8,826 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $4,474 $4,474 Total $23,060 $23,060 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,614 $13,614 $30,001 - $48k $11,549 $11,549 $48,001 - $75k $9,925 $9,925 $75,001 - $110k $8,526 $8,526 $110,001+ $17,198 $17,198 -
Lyon College
Batesville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $29,415 $30,414 Room and Board $10,330 $10,730 Books $1,500 $1,500 Other Expenses $2,000 $2,500 Total $43,245 $45,144 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,087 $8,442 $30,001 - $48k $8,582 $8,959 $48,001 - $75k $12,492 $13,041 $75,001 - $110k $12,828 $13,391 $110,001+ $12,560 $13,112 -
Central Baptist College
Conway Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $17,100 $17,400 Room and Board $7,500 $7,500 Books $1,350 $1,488 Other Expenses $2,254 $2,478 Total $28,204 $28,866 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $20,290 $20,766 $30,001 - $48k $20,800 $21,288 $48,001 - $75k $24,066 $24,631 $75,001 - $110k $26,627 $27,252 $110,001+ $26,905 $27,537 -
Crowley's Ridge College
Paragould Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $15,100 $15,250 Room and Board $6,400 $6,500 Books $600 $793 Other Expenses $2,500 $2,907 Total $24,600 $25,450 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,429 $14,928 $30,001 - $48k $16,516 $17,087 $48,001 - $75k $19,283 $19,949 $75,001 - $110k $17,033 $17,622 $110,001+ $14,663 $15,170 -
Harding University
Searcy Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $21,540 $22,230 Room and Board $7,460 $7,718 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,280 $3,390 Total $33,480 $34,538 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,517 $16,007 $30,001 - $48k $18,672 $19,262 $48,001 - $75k $18,326 $18,905 $75,001 - $110k $21,242 $21,913 $110,001+ $23,330 $24,067
-
Hendrix College
Conway Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $49,490 $33,350 Room and Board $12,820 $13,200 Books $1,100 $1,100 Other Expenses $2,900 $2,900 Total $66,310 $50,550 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $4,004 $3,052 $30,001 - $48k $7,103 $5,415 $48,001 - $75k $10,343 $7,885 $75,001 - $110k $12,727 $9,702 $110,001+ $15,043 $11,468 -
John Brown University
Siloam Springs Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $28,288 $28,924 Room and Board $9,554 $9,554 Books $800 $800 Other Expenses $2,850 $2,850 Total $41,492 $42,128 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $16,289 $16,539 $30,001 - $48k $12,391 $12,581 $48,001 - $75k $19,525 $19,824 $75,001 - $110k $19,264 $19,559 $110,001+ $21,508 $21,838 -
Ouachita Baptist University
Arkadelphia Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $29,120 $30,140 Room and Board $8,000 $8,510 Books $1,100 $1,100 Other Expenses $3,430 $4,200 Total $41,650 $43,950 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,009 $17,948 $30,001 - $48k $17,155 $18,102 $48,001 - $75k $18,203 $19,208 $75,001 - $110k $22,696 $23,949 $110,001+ $22,821 $24,081 -
University of the Ozarks
Clarksville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $25,950 $24,950 Room and Board $7,800 $8,000 Books $0 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,400 $2,400 Total $36,150 $36,350 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,708 $10,767 $30,001 - $48k $11,969 $12,035 $48,001 - $75k $14,747 $14,829 $75,001 - $110k $18,564 $18,667 $110,001+ $20,314 $20,426 -
Philander Smith College
Little Rock Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $13,014 $13,014 Room and Board $8,250 $8,250 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,700 $3,748 Total $26,164 $26,212 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,843 $14,870 $30,001 - $48k $13,695 $13,720 $48,001 - $75k $15,410 $15,438 $75,001 - $110k $16,683 $16,714 $110,001+ $21,710 $21,750 -
Williams Baptist College
Walnut Ridge Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $18,500 $18,570 Room and Board $8,540 $8,550 Books $1,250 $1,250 Other Expenses $3,730 $3,020 Total $32,020 $31,390 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,242 $13,962 $30,001 - $48k $14,631 $14,343 $48,001 - $75k $15,461 $15,157 $75,001 - $110k $17,607 $17,261 $110,001+ $16,966 $16,632
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