Highest ROI College Degrees in Arkansas

Top 20 college + major combinations in Arkansas ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost
1	Arkansas State University Grad rate: 53.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,956,154	$142,090	$22,823	Full ROI →
2	University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,689,120	$126,456	N/A	Full ROI →
3	Harding University Grad rate: 70.2%	Health/Medical Preparatory Programs.	+$1,640,010	$127,639	$36,385	Full ROI →
4	University of Arkansas Grad rate: 69.6%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$1,583,518	$123,792	$26,161	Full ROI →
5	University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,538,520	$118,926	N/A	Full ROI →
6	Harding University Grad rate: 70.2%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$1,187,790	$105,028	$36,385	Full ROI →
7	University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$1,118,660	$97,933	N/A	Full ROI →
8	University of Central Arkansas Grad rate: 51.7%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,032,870	$96,070	$24,265	Full ROI →
9	University of Arkansas Grantham Grad rate: 24.5%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$973,876	$92,169	$14,752	Full ROI →
10	Harding University Grad rate: 70.2%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$850,810	$88,179	$36,385	Full ROI →
11	University of Arkansas Grantham Grad rate: 24.5%	Management Information Systems and Services.	+$792,616	$83,106	$14,752	Full ROI →
12	John Brown University Grad rate: 69.0%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$742,080	$83,430	$43,260	Full ROI →
13	University of Arkansas Grantham Grad rate: 24.5%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$723,412	$81,121	$14,752	Full ROI →
14	University of Arkansas Grad rate: 69.6%	Industrial Engineering.	+$669,961	$82,519	$26,161	Full ROI →
15	Strayer University-Arkansas	Information Science/Studies.	+$669,540	$75,477	N/A	Full ROI →
16	University of Arkansas Grad rate: 69.6%	Computer and Information Sciences, General.	+$620,301	$80,036	$26,161	Full ROI →
17	University of Arkansas Grad rate: 69.6%	Chemical Engineering.	+$601,523	$78,844	$26,161	Full ROI →
18	University of Central Arkansas Grad rate: 51.7%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$595,740	$76,640	$24,265	Full ROI →
19	University of Arkansas Grad rate: 69.6%	Engineering-Related Fields.	+$585,958	$73,914	$26,161	Full ROI →
20	University of Arkansas Grad rate: 69.6%	Accounting and Related Services.	+$554,338	$72,333	$26,161	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.