2026 Best Value Marketing Schools in Arkansas

[Marketing](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/marketing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for marketing students.
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2026 Best Value Marketing Schools in Arkansas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in marketing, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Marketing Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Arkansas Fort Smith the best value for a degree in marketing in Arkansas. University Of Arkansas Fort Smith is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Fort Smith. In-state tuition and fees average $7,334, compared with $12,182 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,333 to complete the marketing program here. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from University Of Arkansas Fort Smith generally make around $39,204. Set against $20,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Students looking for strong value in marketing will find it at Arkansas Tech University, which ranked #2. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,674, with out-of-state students paying around $14,668. Marketing graduates carry a median of $23,257 in student loans. Early-career marketing graduates make about $45,115. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in marketing will find it at Arkansas State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,522. Students borrow a median of $26,241 to complete the marketing program here. Marketing graduates of Arkansas State University Main Campus earn a median of $44,051 early in their careers. Set against $26,241 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a great value for students pursuing a degree in marketing, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Little Rock, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,911, with out-of-state students paying around $22,721. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $27,093. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from University Of Arkansas At Little Rock generally make around $47,170. That is a strong return on a $27,093 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
University Of Central Arkansas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in marketing, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Central Arkansas is a large public school located in the city of Conway. Students from in state pay about $10,523 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,023. Marketing graduates carry a median of $20,633 in student loans. Early-career marketing graduates make about $38,011. That is a strong return on a $20,633 median debt. University Of Central Arkansas admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Arkansas earned the #6 position for value in marketing this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. Marketing graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career marketing graduates make about $50,045. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Harding University landed the #7 spot for marketing value this year. Set in the town of Searcy, Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $25,962 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the marketing program here. Marketing graduates of Harding University earn a median of $46,738 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Harding University admits about 70% of applicants.
John Brown University landed the #8 spot for marketing value this year. Set in the town of Siloam Springs, John Brown University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $31,756 in tuition and fees. Marketing graduates carry a median of $25,216 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from John Brown University generally make around $50,420. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.