Lowest In-State Tuition for a Bachelor’s
$8,090 in annual undergraduate tuition and required fees for state residents (2024–25), the lowest among the 5 bachelor’s programs shown here.
Arkansas · Economics Rankings · 2027 
Best Economics Programs in Arkansas for 2027
At Hendrix College 72% of students finish within six years, level with the University of Arkansas at 71%, yet Hendrix costs $38,200 a year and Arkansas $10,104 for residents. Arkansas State is cheaper still at $8,090. If you want to go on, Fayetteville is the only Arkansas campus with an economics master’s, 12 degrees last year and 19th in the national master’s ranking, plus the doctorate.
By Taylor Rupe, Editor
Economics Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Arkansas
5 schools in Arkansas awarded economics bachelor’s degrees in 2023–24, scored against 670 bachelor’s programs nationwide.
- 1
University of Arkansas
Economics BSBA, Business Economics Concentration
61.1 Comparison ScoreArkansas teaches economics inside the Walton College of Business, so the degree is a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Business Economics concentration, and a business core comes first: accounting, supply chain, organizational behavior, business law and data analysis. The economics itself arrives in the upper years with intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics, economics of organizations, introductory econometrics, and either forecasting or economic analytics, plus economics electives. Students also complete a survey of calculus. The department additionally grants a BA in Economics through Fulbright College and a BS in International Business with business economics.
- Upper-Division Core
- Economics of Organizations and Introduction to Econometrics
- Analytics Choice
- Forecasting or Economic Analytics in the senior year
- Related Degrees
- BA in Economics through Fulbright College
Program Sources: Economics B.S.B.A. with Business Economics Concentration | University of ArkansasDepartment of Economics | Walton College | University of Arkansas
- Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
- 23 Economics, 2023–24
- School Six-Year Graduation Rate
- 71% 4,970 first-time, full-time students
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $10,104 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $29,966 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- 2
Hendrix College
Economics BA
47.0 Comparison ScoreHendrix's economics major is eleven courses inside a small liberal arts department where every full-time faculty member holds a Ph.D. or CPA. After micro and macro theory, two accounting courses and calculus, you move to advanced microeconomic and macroeconomic theory and pick three electives from money and banking, international economics, public finance, labor economics, corporate finance and management science, along with one statistics course. Students aiming at graduate school are told to add econometrics and forecasting, economic research and the equivalent of a math minor. Co-op experiences link students with nonprofits, businesses, law offices and government offices.
- Major Size
- Eleven courses including two accounting courses and calculus
- Graduate School Add-Ons
- Econometrics and Forecasting, Economic Research, math minor equivalent
- Applied Experience
- Co-ops with nonprofits, businesses, law offices and government
Program Sources: Economics and Business | Hendrix College CatalogBachelor of Arts in Economics | Hendrix College
- Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
- 22 Economics, 2023–24
- School Six-Year Graduation Rate
- 72% 293 first-time, full-time students
- Median Graduate Earnings
- $77,167 Economics bachelor’s graduates, College Scorecard
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $38,200 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $38,200 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- 3
Arkansas State University
Economics BA
46.2 Comparison ScoreArkansas State houses its Bachelor of Arts in Economics in the AACSB-accredited Neil Griffin College of Business, so you get an economics degree with business-school resources behind it. The 120-credit program builds a base in economic theory, data analysis and critical thinking, and the department also offers a Pre-Law concentration and an economics minor for students who want to pair the major with another path. Graduates head into roles such as economic or policy analyst, investment professional, management consultant and actuary. Admission asks for a 3.0 GPA, or 2.0 for transfer students, and classes start in August.
- Concentration
- Pre-Law
- Program Length
- 120 credit hours
- College
- AACSB-accredited Neil Griffin College of Business
Program Sources: BA in Economics | Arkansas State UniversityEconomics & Finance Department | A-State
- Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
- 8 Economics, 2023–24
- School Six-Year Graduation Rate
- 53% 1,486 first-time, full-time students
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $8,090 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $14,522 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- 4
University of Central Arkansas
Economics BS, BA and BBA
38.5 Comparison ScoreCentral Arkansas lets you choose how to earn the degree: a BS in Economics, a BA in Applied Economics, or a BBA in Economics. The 30-hour BS major shares a core of principles, intermediate theory, econometrics and a senior seminar, then splits into a general track with twelve hours of upper-division electives, which may include money and banking, investments and international finance, and a pre-law track with public sector economics, law and economics, symbolic logic and a writing course. Related minors include actuarial studies and the economics and insurance of health care administration. Qualified majors can enter an honors-in-the-major program.
- BS Tracks
- General track or pre-law track
- Pre-Law Courses
- Public Sector Economics, Law and Economics, Symbolic Logic and a writing course
- Related Minors
- Actuarial Studies; Economics and Insurance of Health Care Administration
Program Sources: Department of Economics, Finance, and Insurance and Risk Management | UCA Undergraduate Bulletin
- Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
- 10 Economics, 2023–24
- School Six-Year Graduation Rate
- 53% 2,023 first-time, full-time students
- Median Graduate Earnings
- $41,919 Economics bachelor’s graduates, College Scorecard
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $10,523 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $18,023 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- 5
Lyon College
Economics Major (BA)
24.6 Comparison ScoreLyon's economics major is 42 credits and mixes theory with a practical business footing: financial and managerial accounting, quantitative methods, business statistics, intermediate macro and micro, econometrics and money and banking. Twelve elective credits let you choose among courses such as game theory, investment portfolio management, environmental economics, public finance, international economics and the political economy of public issues. Calculus can replace the quantitative methods course. The liberal arts core adds writing and breadth, and the department reports that every economics major is employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. Students can also join the Enactus entrepreneurship group.
- Major Credits
- 42 credits plus the liberal arts core
- Elective Range
- Game theory, portfolio management, environmental economics and public finance
- Outcome Claim
- All majors employed or in graduate school within six months
Program Sources: Economics Major (BA) | Lyon CollegeEconomics Major & Minor | Lyon College
- Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
- 4 Economics, 2023–24
- School Six-Year Graduation Rate
- 47% 216 first-time, full-time students
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $31,000 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $31,000 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
Economics Master’s Programs in Arkansas
1 school in Arkansas has a separately admitting master’s route confirmed on an official school page and reported economics master’s degrees in 2023–24, scored against 214 master’s programs nationwide. You can apply to these master’s programs without entering a Ph.D. program.
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Arkansas packs this master's into ten months, two semesters running August to May, and it is STEM-designated. Applied microeconomics, introductory econometrics, forecasting and applied microeconometrics sit alongside two economic analytics courses, data exploration and communication, and an economic policy and data analysis course. Programming in Python, R and SQL, plus machine learning and optimization, give the economics a computational edge. A capstone applies the methods to real-world questions. Graduates have taken analyst and economist roles at Sam's Club, Tyson Foods, J.B. Hunt and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the GMAT or GRE is required unless a waiver applies.
- Format
- Ten-month, two-semester program starting each August
- Technical Tools
- Python, R and SQL with machine learning and optimization
- Capstone
- Applied economic analytics course on real-world questions
Program Sources: Master of Science in Economic Analytics | Walton College | University of Arkansas
- Master’s Degrees Awarded
- 12 Economics, 2023–24
- Research Designation
- R1 Institution, Carnegie 2025
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $12,470 Graduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $30,892 Graduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
Economics PhD Programs in Arkansas
1 school in Arkansas awarded research doctorates in economics in 2023–24. Doctoral scores leave out tuition because funding offers, not sticker price, decide the real cost.
- 1
University of Arkansas
Economics PhD
37.4 Comparison ScoreArkansas' economics PhD is a four-to-five-year program with 39 hours of coursework: first-year theory in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics with a math course, then second-year applied microeconometrics, experimental economics, experimetrics, behavioral economics and a two-course sequence in international trade and development. Students normally take two fields, industrial organization and international macroeconomics and development, choose one as their major field, and pass its field examination, usually the summer after year two. Written candidacy exams in microeconomics and macroeconomics and a dissertation defense complete the degree. Applicants need the GRE and prior calculus, statistics and linear algebra.
- Fields
- Industrial Organization and International Macro and Development
- Behavioral Coursework
- Experimental Economics, Experimetrics and Behavioral Economics
- Admission Prerequisites
- Intermediate micro and macro, two semesters of calculus, statistics, linear algebra
Program Sources: Economics Ph.D. | Walton College | University of Arkansas
- Doctoral Degrees Awarded
- 1 Economics, 2023–24
- Research Designation
- R1 Institution, Carnegie 2025
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $12,470 Graduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $30,892 Graduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
Economics Programs in Arkansas at a Glance
- Ranked Schools
- 5 3 public, 2 private
- Bachelor’s Programs
- 5 67 degrees in 2023–24
- Master’s Programs
- 1 12 degrees in 2023–24
- Doctoral Programs
- 1 1 degrees in 2023–24
- Lowest In-State Tuition
- $8,090 Bachelor’s list, schoolwide, 2024–25
How We Rank Economics Programs in Arkansas
Each program gets the same comparison score it earns in our national economics model, calculated against the nationwide group that meets the numeric and directory criteria. We then order Arkansas’s eligible programs by that score within each degree level. We feature up to 10 programs, taking the next highest-ranked program from each degree-level list in turn. Scores are compared only within the same degree level. Bachelor’s lists weigh graduation rate (20%), published tuition (20%), graduate earnings (20%), program reputation (25%), and degrees awarded (15%). Master’s lists weigh graduate tuition (25%), research activity (25%), program reputation (30%), and master’s degrees awarded (20%). Doctoral lists weigh research activity (35%), program reputation (35%), and doctoral degrees awarded (30%). Master’s lists require an official school source confirming a separately admitting master’s route. Methodology and data sources.
Best Economics Schools in Arkansas by Goal
These picks compare only the programs featured in the lists above.
Most Economics Bachelor’s Graduates
23 economics bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2023–24, the most of any school on this list.
Highest Schoolwide Graduation Rate
72% of first-time, full-time students at the school finished a bachelor’s within six years. This is a schoolwide rate, not a economics-only rate.
Top-Scoring Private College
The highest-scoring private school on the bachelor’s list (No. 2 overall), with a comparison score of 47.0.
Graduate Study at an R1 University
Carries the Carnegie 2025 Research 1 designation for very high research spending and doctorate production.
Top-Scoring Economics Doctorate
1 research doctorate awarded in 2023–24; ranked first of 1 doctoral program shown here.
Bachelor’s and Master’s at One School
Awarded economics degrees at both levels in 2023–24, so you can compare the undergraduate major and a later master’s in one department.
Arkansas Economics Degrees Come Mostly From Fayetteville and Conway
The University of Arkansas and Hendrix College awarded almost the same number of economics bachelor’s degrees in 2023–24, 23 and 22, and report nearly identical schoolwide graduation rates, 71% and 72%. Their costs differ widely: $10,104 in resident tuition and fees at Fayetteville for 2024–25 against $38,200 at Hendrix. The University of Central Arkansas, also in Conway, ranks fourth and awarded 10. Arkansas State University has the lowest resident figure on the list, $8,090, and ranks third. Lyon College, the other private school, scores 30.7.
For graduate study, the University of Arkansas is the only ranked option. Schoolwide resident graduate tuition and fees are $12,470. All five bachelor’s programs received a rank.
Economics Careers and Pay in Arkansas
These are BLS median annual wages for Arkansas and the United States from the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. A median is the midpoint among workers in the occupation, from new hires to senior staff, so it is not a starting salary for a new graduate. The 10th–90th percentile range shows what the middle 80% of workers earn in the state.
| Occupation | Arkansas Median | Arkansas 10th–90th Percentile | U.S. Median | Arkansas Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economist Pay in Arkansas BLS: Economists | $91,560 | $55,130–$136,990 | $124,720 | 50 |
| Market Research Analyst Wages in Arkansas BLS: Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $65,430 | $34,560–$136,310 | $78,760 | 6,250 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Wage data does not enter the program scores.
Economics Programs in Arkansas: Common Questions
How Many Schools in Arkansas Appear in These Economics Rankings?
5 schools in Arkansas appear in the lists shown here (5 bachelor’s, 1 master’s, 1 research doctorate programs). A school can appear at more than one degree level. The degree counts come from federal IPEDS completions for 2023–24.
Which Economics Bachelor’s Program in Arkansas Has the Lowest Tuition?
Arkansas State University lists $8,090 in annual undergraduate tuition and required fees for state residents in 2024–25, the lowest among the bachelor’s programs shown here. That is a schoolwide figure before aid, so check the program’s own costs and any fees for fieldwork or labs.
Which Schools in Arkansas Reported Economics Research Doctorates in 2023–24?
The federal IPEDS completions file records economics research doctorates awarded in 2023–24 at University of Arkansas (1 degree). These are historical award counts. Check current admissions, advisor availability, and funding directly with each department.
How Many Economists Work in Arkansas?
The May 2025 data count 50 economists employed in Arkansas, with a state median wage of $91,560 against $124,720 nationally. The page also lists market research analysts and marketing specialists, a much larger group of 6,250 jobs at a $65,430 median. Those medians describe workers at all experience levels, not new graduates.
Which Arkansas Economics Master’s Programs Have Separate Admission?
University of Arkansas in Fayetteville is the ranked economics master’s option with confirmed separate admission. Its program page describes the degree as Master of Arts in Economics. The school reported 12 economics master’s degrees in 2023–24. Schoolwide graduate tuition and required fees for residents were $12,470 in 2024–25. Compare the program’s required courses and admission requirements with your planned work or further study.
Sources
- IPEDS C2024_A completions: first-major degrees awarded by field and level, 2023–24.
- IPEDS COST1_2024: tuition and required fees, 2024–25.
- IPEDS DRVGR2024: schoolwide graduation rates.
- Carnegie 2025 Research Activity Designations.
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state estimates.
- SocialSciences.org ranking methodology.
