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Little Rock, Arkansas skylinePhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Little Rock

Little Rock is home to five colleges, with 8,949 students on campus

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock (5,059 students on campus) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (2,164) are inside the city. About 6% of Little Rock’s residents are enrolled in college, above Arkansas (5%).

University of Arkansas at Little RockUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Little Rock. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
7
11,489 students on campus
Nearest college
1.1 mi
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Residents in college
6%
Above AR (5%)
Nearest community college
2.9 mi
Baptist Health College Little Rock · $13,987 tuition
Nearest public university
1.1 mi
University of Arkansas at Little Rock · $9,748 in-state
Median household income
$63K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Little Rock

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 2.7 milesUniversity of Arkansas at Little Rock admits 59% of applicants. Together they have 7,223 students on campus.In-state price at University of Arkansas at Little RockLiving in Arkansas, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock charges $9,748 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $22,158. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 2.9 miles awayBaptist Health College Little Rock in Little Rock: tuition and fees $13,987 a year for Arkansas residents.Students are 6% of residentsAbove Arkansas (5%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Little Rock

Four private colleges within 6 miles, two public colleges within 2.7 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Arkansas at Little RockUniversity of Arkansas for Medical SciencesLittle Rock
University or collegeCommunity college
University of Arkansas at Little RockUniversity or college · Public · 5,059 on campus · In Little Rock59%admitted$17knet price42%graduate$45kearningsUniversity of Arkansas for Medical SciencesUniversity or college · Public · 2,164 on campus · In Little Rock$74kearningsBaptist Health College Little RockCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 512 on campus · In Little Rock95%admitted$25knet price$62kearningsTuition and fees: $13,987 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Arkansas Baptist CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 373 on campus · In Little Rock$11knet price7%graduate$28kearningsPhilander Smith UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 841 on campus · In Little Rock$14knet price30%graduate$38kearningsUniversity of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,253 on campus · 5.2 mi · North Little Rock$14knet price36%graduate$35kearningsTuition and fees: $6,300 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Shorter CollegeCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 287 on campus · 6 mi · N Little Rock$14knet price12%graduateTuition and fees: $6,246 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Little Rock’s median household income ($63,003) falls.

University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College5.2 mi · North Little Rock · sticker $20,811 · tuition $6,300$15,976a year
Philander Smith UniversityIn Little Rock · sticker $28,136$16,686a year
Shorter College6 mi · N Little Rock · sticker $21,735 · tuition $6,246$18,089a year
University of Arkansas at Little RockIn Little Rock · sticker $22,519$19,018a year
Arkansas Baptist CollegeIn Little Rock · sticker $23,060$19,496a year
Baptist Health College Little RockIn Little Rock · sticker $31,961 · tuition $13,987—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Little Rock: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of Arkansas at Little RockArkansas Baptist CollegePhilander Smith UniversityUniversity of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College
University of Arkansas at Little Rock42% graduate$45k earnings$22k typical debt
University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College36% graduate$35k earnings$12k typical debt
Philander Smith University30% graduate$38k earnings$25k typical debt
Arkansas Baptist College7% graduate$28k earnings$25k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Little Rock

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Little Rock’s 5 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 40%Business 11%Public safety 7%Liberal arts 5%Computer science 5%Engineering tech 3%Everything else 30%

Biggest programs

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied ProfessionsUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences · 304 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBaptist Health College Little Rock · 163 graduates a year
$77k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of Arkansas at Little Rock · 153 graduates a year
$89k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences · 101 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences · 76 graduates a year
$75k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsUniversity of Arkansas at Little Rock · 73 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out
Accounting and Related ServicesUniversity of Arkansas at Little Rock · 63 graduates a year
$70k4 yrs out
Social WorkUniversity of Arkansas at Little Rock · 62 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Little Rock

Is Little Rock a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Little Rock residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Arkansas (5). The largest campus in the city, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, has 5,059 students on campus.

What colleges are in Little Rock?

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Philander Smith University, Baptist Health College Little Rock and 1 more are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Little Rock, and what does it cost?

Baptist Health College Little Rock in Little Rock, 2.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $13,987 a year for Arkansas residents; the federal net price, $25,454, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Arkansas at Little Rock cost if we live in Arkansas?

Tuition and fees are $9,748 a year in-state and $22,158 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $15,195 (under $30,000 income) to $22,255 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Little Rock. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →