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Best Trade Programs in Arkansas (2026)

Top 100 of 135 programs in Arkansas · Updated 2026

The best trade school programs in Arkansas, ranked by overall value. We scored 135 programs across Arkansas trade schools on earnings, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $44,746/yr in graduate earnings.

Programs in AR

135

Avg Earnings (Top 100)

$44,746/yr

Avg TSW Score

68/100

#1 Program

Truck Driving & CDL

Arkansas State University-Newport

Top Trade Programs in Arkansas

Top 100 programs by TSW Score. Click any row for full analysis.

#	Program	TSW Score	Earnings	ROI
1	Truck Driving & CDL Arkansas State University-Newport · Newport, AR	88 87–89	$45,980/yr	160.0x
2	Truck Driving & CDL North Arkansas College · Harrison, AR	84 83–84	$39,576/yr	124.1x
3	Practical Nursing Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas · De Queen, AR	81 80–82	$62,501/yr	59.9x
4	Business Administration Arkansas Tech University · Russellville, AR	80 76–82	$47,708/yr	55.1x
5	Nursing Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas · Helena, AR	88 83–89	$78,213/yr	120.1x
6	Electrical Installation Arkansas State University-Newport · Newport, AR	86 83–87	$71,039/yr	283.4x
7	Nursing Arkansas State University-Newport · Newport, AR	89 83–89	$74,682/yr	117.8x
8	Nursing Black River Technical College · Pocahontas, AR	82 77–83	$65,660/yr	75.2x
9	Nursing East Arkansas Community College · Forrest City, AR	84 78–84	$64,932/yr	87.8x
10	Nursing National Park College · Hot Springs, AR	81 76–81	$67,783/yr	56.6x
11	Nursing Arkansas Northeastern College · Blytheville, AR	88 83–89	$70,131/yr	104.4x
12	Nursing University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton · Morrilton, AR	85 80–86	$67,748/yr	97.2x
13	Nursing NorthWest Arkansas Community College · Bentonville, AR	87 81–87	$67,192/yr	108.0x
14	Nursing Arkansas State University · Jonesboro, AR	78 73–78	$70,358/yr	43.8x
15	Nursing University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville · Batesville, AR	86 79–86	$64,187/yr	106.0x
16	Practical Nursing Northwest Technical Institute · Springdale, AR	79 78–80	$47,715/yr	91.0x
17	Nursing Ozarka College · Melbourne, AR	83 77–84	$60,148/yr	88.0x
18	Nursing South Arkansas College · El Dorado, AR	84 78–85	$59,370/yr	101.3x
19	Nursing Arkansas State University-Mountain Home · Mountain Home, AR	86 79–86	$62,518/yr	117.8x
20	Nursing University of Arkansas at Little Rock · Little Rock, AR	76 71–76	$66,420/yr	43.2x
21	Practical Nursing Arkansas State University-Beebe · Beebe, AR	81 79–82	$44,546/yr	137.5x
22	Nursing North Arkansas College · Harrison, AR	84 78–85	$58,258/yr	104.7x
23	Nursing Arkansas Tech University · Russellville, AR	75 71–76	$67,063/yr	41.0x
24	Criminal Justice Black River Technical College · Pocahontas, AR	79 76–81	$40,468/yr	87.3x
25	Practical Nursing National Park College · Hot Springs, AR	77 74–78	$42,364/yr	92.1x
26	Truck Driving & CDL Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas · Helena, AR	76 75–76	$30,221/yr	92.6x
27	Practical Nursing Baptist Health College Little Rock · Little Rock, AR	69 68–70	$48,332/yr	38.7x
28	Welding & Metalworking Arkansas Northeastern College · Blytheville, AR	73 72–74	$47,110/yr	182.3x
29	Medical Assisting NorthWest Arkansas Community College · Bentonville, AR	78 75–78	$52,397/yr	86.9x
30	Practical Nursing Arkansas State University-Newport · Newport, AR	80 77–81	$39,979/yr	176.7x
31	Practical Nursing North Arkansas College · Harrison, AR	78 76–79	$38,783/yr	136.2x
32	Practical Nursing Arkansas State University-Mountain Home · Mountain Home, AR	77 75–77	$37,769/yr	118.2x
33	Business Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas · De Queen, AR	73 69–74	$36,808/yr	46.1x
34	Nursing Jefferson Regional School of Nursing · Pine Bluff, AR	73 66–73	$67,010/yr	—
35	Practical Nursing University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain · Mena, AR	77 73–77	$36,179/yr	137.2x
36	Culinary Arts NorthWest Arkansas Community College · Bentonville, AR	74 72–74	$25,996/yr	86.2x
37	Practical Nursing Arkansas Tech University · Russellville, AR	67 66–67	$47,902/yr	29.8x
38	Nursing Baptist Health College Little Rock · Little Rock, AR	71 67–72	$68,834/yr	24.3x
39	Practical Nursing Ozarka College · Melbourne, AR	74 73–75	$36,085/yr	80.4x
40	Vehicle Repair Technology Northwest Technical Institute · Springdale, AR	68 66–69	$37,388/yr	81.9x
41	Culinary Arts NorthWest Arkansas Community College · Bentonville, AR	66 65–66	$26,025/yr	42.6x
42	Business NorthWest Arkansas Community College · Bentonville, AR	77 67–79	$31,888/yr	91.2x
43	Industrial Production Technology Arkansas Northeastern College · Blytheville, AR	77 74–78	$97,406/yr	188.5x
44	Business North Arkansas College · Harrison, AR	69 65–71	$30,627/yr	47.2x
45	Allied Health Professions University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College · North Little Rock, AR	69 67–70	$62,098/yr	63.0x
46	Allied Health Professions NorthWest Arkansas Community College · Bentonville, AR	73 70–74	$59,189/yr	81.0x
47	Business Strayer University-Arkansas · Little Rock, AR	69 62–71	$44,154/yr	19.1x
48	Practical Nursing Black River Technical College · Pocahontas, AR	72 66–72	$30,491/yr	114.2x
49	Business University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College · North Little Rock, AR	68 63–70	$32,780/yr	38.8x
50	Allied Health Professions Southeast Arkansas College · Pine Bluff, AR	73 68–73	$48,660/yr	123.5x
51	Criminal Justice University of Arkansas Grantham · LIttle Rock, AR	65 61–66	$39,043/yr	22.3x
52	IT Management Strayer University-Arkansas · Little Rock, AR	68 61–71	$61,810/yr	20.1x
53	Criminal Justice Arkansas Tech University · Russellville, AR	63 59–65	$36,076/yr	25.9x
54	Allied Health Professions Arkansas Tech University · Russellville, AR	63 61–64	$64,185/yr	36.7x
55	Criminal Justice National Park College · Hot Springs, AR	64 62–66	$34,904/yr	29.7x
56	Vehicle Repair Technology National Park College · Hot Springs, AR	60 59–60	$30,913/yr	55.5x
57	Allied Health Professions National Park College · Hot Springs, AR	65 59–66	$48,020/yr	57.0x
58	Culinary Arts University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College · North Little Rock, AR	62 59–62	$25,597/yr	31.2x
59	Medical Assisting Arkansas State University · Jonesboro, AR	62 58–63	$41,060/yr	32.3x
60	Allied Health Professions National Park College · Hot Springs, AR	67 64–68	$44,165/yr	77.9x
61	Allied Health Professions North Arkansas College · Harrison, AR	67 64–68	$44,879/yr	75.6x
62	Computer Science University of Arkansas Grantham · LIttle Rock, AR	67 60–70	$47,904/yr	27.9x
63	Business Arkansas State University-Beebe · Beebe, AR	66 57–68	$23,663/yr	64.5x
64	Business Administration University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College · North Little Rock, AR	64 60–66	$30,429/yr	30.4x
65	Business Administration University of Arkansas Grantham · LIttle Rock, AR	65 60–67	$35,151/yr	20.7x
66	Heavy Equipment Technology University of Arkansas at Monticello · Monticello, AR	55 55–55	$49,589/yr	27.0x
67	Allied Health Professions Black River Technical College · Pocahontas, AR	62 56–62	$40,193/yr	56.3x
68	Practical Nursing Arkansas Northeastern College · Blytheville, AR	68 64–69	$24,580/yr	132.1x
69	Nuclear Engineering Technology Arkansas Tech University · Russellville, AR	58 56–59	$74,249/yr	42.6x
70	Allied Health Professions Baptist Health College Little Rock · Little Rock, AR	59 56–60	$44,984/yr	38.9x
71	Welding & Metalworking University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College · North Little Rock, AR	52 51–53	$26,579/yr	53.8x
72	Allied Health Professions Arkansas State University-Newport · Newport, AR	69 66–70	$39,080/yr	144.4x
73	Allied Health Professions University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences · Little Rock, AR	58 54–59	$49,833/yr	—
74	Welding & Metalworking University of Arkansas at Monticello · Monticello, AR	50 50–51	$31,083/yr	34.1x
75	Teacher Education Arkansas Northeastern College · Blytheville, AR	59 57–60	$23,575/yr	44.9x
76	Welding & Metalworking Southern Arkansas University Tech · Camden, AR	52 51–52	$26,001/yr	54.5x
77	Welding & Metalworking Arkansas Welding Academy · Jacksonville, AR	50 48–50	$33,187/yr	—
78	Computer Engineering Technology Arkansas State University-Beebe · Beebe, AR	62 55–64	$37,876/yr	57.9x
79	Medical Assisting Arkansas Tech University · Russellville, AR	57 53–58	$35,961/yr	24.4x
80	Electromechanical Technology University of Arkansas at Monticello · Monticello, AR	62 55–64	$45,652/yr	93.9x
81	Teacher Education Arkansas State University-Beebe · Beebe, AR	56 49–58	$18,025/yr	45.5x
82	Welding & Metalworking Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas · De Queen, AR	53 49–55	$22,341/yr	112.4x
83	Health Sciences East Arkansas Community College · Forrest City, AR	68 63–70	$51,751/yr	89.2x
84	Information Sciences University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College · North Little Rock, AR	61 54–63	$32,267/yr	32.3x
85	Health Sciences NorthWest Arkansas Community College · Bentonville, AR	70 64–71	$52,580/yr	175.3x
86	Allied Health Professions University of Arkansas-Fort Smith · Fort Smith, AR	58 56–58	$45,967/yr	24.2x
87	Health Administration University of Arkansas Grantham · LIttle Rock, AR	59 53–61	$31,895/yr	16.4x
88	Vehicle Repair Technology University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College · North Little Rock, AR	50 50–50	$21,483/yr	43.3x
89	Business Operations Support Arkansas Tech University · Russellville, AR	53 48–57	$29,476/yr	18.4x
90	Practical Nursing Southeast Arkansas College · Pine Bluff, AR	52 52–52	$18,605/yr	36.5x
91	Electrical Engineering Technology University of Arkansas Grantham · LIttle Rock, AR	54 51–56	$55,260/yr	32.4x
92	Veterinary Technology Arkansas State University-Beebe · Beebe, AR	54 50–54	$32,886/yr	50.1x
93	Health Sciences Black River Technical College · Pocahontas, AR	61 56–62	$39,602/yr	85.4x
94	Liberal Arts & Humanities NorthWest Arkansas Community College · Bentonville, AR	58 58–58	$31,922/yr	106.0x
95	Liberal Arts & Humanities NorthWest Arkansas Community College · Bentonville, AR	52 50–52	$30,703/yr	66.2x
96	Dental Assisting NorthWest Arkansas Community College · Bentonville, AR	59 56–59	$28,819/yr	95.6x
97	Liberal Arts & Humanities Arkansas State University-Mountain Home · Mountain Home, AR	49 48–49	$28,907/yr	56.5x
98	Liberal Arts & Humanities Black River Technical College · Pocahontas, AR	47 49–47	$33,747/yr	34.4x
99	Liberal Arts & Humanities Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas · De Queen, AR	45 46–45	$29,547/yr	42.5x
100	Liberal Arts & Humanities East Arkansas Community College · Forrest City, AR	54 52–54	$27,952/yr	95.4x

About This Ranking

What we ranked

Best Trades in Arkansas ranks 100 programs across the United States by the TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines graduate earnings, return on investment, and job-market demand into a single 0-100 metric.

Data sources

Earnings figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, which tracks graduate income one and five years after program completion. Job-market projections use Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 employment data.

How to read the table

Use the sort controls below the headline to re-rank by earnings, ROI, or other metrics. Click any school name for full earnings projections, three-scenario modeling, and detailed program data. Most students attend a school within driving distance — local rankings are usually more actionable than national.

Caveats & limitations

Rankings reflect what the data can measure: post-graduation earnings, debt levels, and broad labor-market trends. They cannot capture program quality nuances like instructor expertise, hands-on equipment access, or industry connections. Treat rankings as a starting point — visit schools and talk to current students before committing.

Methodology

This ranking includes the top 100 trade programs at Arkansas schools, drawn from 135 total programs with earnings data. Programs are ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score (0–100), which combines graduate earnings, job market demand, and tuition ROI.

Only in-state tuition is used for ROI calculations. Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best trade program in Arkansas?

By TradeSchoolOutlook Score, Truck Driving & CDL at Arkansas State University-Newport ranks #1 in Arkansas with a score of 88/100 and graduate earnings of $45,980/yr.

How many trade programs are in Arkansas?

Our database includes 135 trade programs across Arkansas schools with reported earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections). Last updated 2025.