Arkansas · Economics

Best colleges for Economics in Arkansas

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Arkansas, Hendrix College and University of Central Arkansas award the most Economics degrees and certificates in Arkansas: 32, 23 and 18 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 Arkansas colleges offer Economics and award 83 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Economics program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. It explores how economies function and how individuals respond to various incentives, making…

Institutions
5
offering CIP 45.06
States & territories
52
with a program page
Degrees / yr
83
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$40,445
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
2
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,415
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
60%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Economists
$94,330
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Hendrix College
Conway Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$40,4452372%$22,415$27,000
2University of Central Arkansas
Conway Public · Bachelor's degree Small program
$41,9191854%—$19,835

Colleges awarding the most Economics degrees in Arkansas

Top 5 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Arkansas
Fayetteville Public
32Not reported
2Hendrix College
Conway Private not-for-profit
23$40,445
3University of Central Arkansas
Conway Public
18$41,919
4Arkansas State University
Jonesboro Public
7Not reported
5Lyon College
Batesville Private not-for-profit
3Not reported

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Economists (SOC 19-3011).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+1.2%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~900
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$115,440
typically Master's degree

Top skills

Critical ThinkingMathematicsReading ComprehensionSpeakingActive ListeningWriting

What Economists earn in Arkansas

Jobs in Arkansas
50
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$94,330
median $91,560
Best-paying metro
$90,290
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR

Related careers

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
$78,430 avg · 6,250 jobs
Statisticians
$109,740 avg · 570 jobs
Data Scientists
$116,320 avg · 530 jobs
Economists
$94,330 avg · 50 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Economics programs in Arkansas.

Which Arkansas colleges award the most Economics degrees?+

University of Arkansas (32 graduates a year), Hendrix College (23 graduates a year) and University of Central Arkansas (18 graduates a year) award the most Economics degrees and certificates in Arkansas, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 Arkansas colleges offer Economics.

Which Economics program in Arkansas has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Hendrix College tops the list at $40,445. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Economists earn in Arkansas?+

The average annual wage for Economists in Arkansas is $94,330 (median $91,560), across about 50 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Economics program?+

The Economics program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. It explores how economies function and how individuals respond to various incentives, making…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop critical thinking, mathematics, reading comprehension, speaking, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Economists?+

The national job outlook is about +1.2% growth with around 900 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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