Arkansas doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 19 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 19 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Fayetteville came out on top.
The 10 Best College Towns In Arkansas For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Arkansas's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | University of Arkansas |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 28,677 (29 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 99,319 |
| Median rent | $1,065 |
| Graduation rate | 67% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $27,767 |
Fayetteville is home to University of Arkansas. There are 29 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,065 a month, and the average cost to attend is $27,767 a year. It ranks 10th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Ouachita Baptist University, Henderson State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,058 (30 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 10,099 |
| Median rent | $814 |
| Graduation rate | 52% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $37,353 |
Arkadelphia is home to Ouachita Baptist University, Henderson State University. There are 30 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $814 a month, and the average cost to attend is $37,353 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Arkansas Colleges of Health Education |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 4,091 (5 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 89,805 |
| Median rent | $884 |
| Graduation rate | 43% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $19,048 |
Fort Smith is home to University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Arkansas Colleges of Health Education. There are 5 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $884 a month, and the average cost to attend is $19,048 a year. It ranks 15th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Arkansas at Monticello |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,933 (23 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 8,257 |
| Median rent | $707 |
| Graduation rate | 43% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $22,519 |
Monticello is home to University of Arkansas at Monticello. There are 23 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $707 a month, and the average cost to attend is $22,519 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Arkansas Tech University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 5,388 (18 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 29,162 |
| Median rent | $842 |
| Graduation rate | 53% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $22,808 |
Russellville is home to Arkansas Tech University. There are 18 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $842 a month, and the average cost to attend is $22,808 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,708 (25 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 10,894 |
| Median rent | $633 |
| Graduation rate | 48% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $24,951 |
Magnolia is home to Southern Arkansas University Main Campus. There are 25 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $633 a month, and the average cost to attend is $24,951 a year. It ranks 11th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Champion Christian College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 144 (0 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 37,920 |
| Median rent | $914 |
| Graduation rate | 50% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $20,970 |
Hot Springs is home to Champion Christian College. There are 0 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $914 a month, and the average cost to attend is $20,970 a year. It ranks 16th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | John Brown University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,471 (8 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 18,699 |
| Median rent | $1,003 |
| Graduation rate | 67% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $44,710 |
Siloam Springs is home to John Brown University. There are 8 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,003 a month, and the average cost to attend is $44,710 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Philander Smith University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 8,308 (4 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 203,436 |
| Median rent | $1,106 |
| Graduation rate | 38% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $24,572 |
Little Rock is home to University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Philander Smith University. There are 4 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,106 a month, and the average cost to attend is $24,572 a year. It ranks 19th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Arkansas State University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 9,110 (11 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 80,137 |
| Median rent | $956 |
| Graduation rate | 55% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $25,082 |
Jonesboro is home to Arkansas State University. There are 11 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $956 a month, and the average cost to attend is $25,082 a year. It ranks 13th for crime among the 19 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Arkansas
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 19 towns in Arkansas that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Arkansas.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Arkansas.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Arkansas
If you're looking for the best college towns in Arkansas, Fayetteville is where to start.
The best college towns in Arkansas are Fayetteville, Arkadelphia, Fort Smith, Monticello, Russellville, Magnolia, Hot Springs, Siloam Springs, Little Rock, and Jonesboro.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Arkansas for 2026?
Fayetteville is the best college town in Arkansas for 2026, followed by Arkadelphia and Fort Smith.
How did you rank the best college towns in Arkansas?
We looked at every town in Arkansas with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Arkansas?
North Little Rock ranks last of the 19 college towns we ranked in Arkansas for 2026.
Best College Towns In Arkansas For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fayetteville, AR | 99,319 | 28,677 | $1,065 |
| 2 | Arkadelphia, AR | 10,099 | 3,058 | $814 |
| 3 | Fort Smith, AR | 89,805 | 4,091 | $884 |
| 4 | Monticello, AR | 8,257 | 1,933 | $707 |
| 5 | Russellville, AR | 29,162 | 5,388 | $842 |
| 6 | Magnolia, AR | 10,894 | 2,708 | $633 |
| 7 | Hot Springs, AR | 37,920 | 144 | $914 |
| 8 | Siloam Springs, AR | 18,699 | 1,471 | $1,003 |
| 9 | Little Rock, AR | 203,436 | 8,308 | $1,106 |
| 10 | Jonesboro, AR | 80,137 | 9,110 | $956 |
| 11 | Searcy, AR | 23,340 | 3,382 | $905 |
| 12 | Batesville, AR | 11,445 | 648 | $882 |
| 13 | Springdale, AR | 88,160 | 108 | $1,071 |
| 14 | Conway, AR | 67,642 | 9,346 | $1,011 |
| 15 | Pine Bluff, AR | 39,743 | 1,807 | $855 |
| 16 | Clarksville, AR | 9,526 | 767 | $760 |
| 17 | Walnut Ridge, AR | 5,434 | 478 | $739 |
| 18 | Paragould, AR | 30,215 | 165 | $925 |
| 19 | North Little Rock, AR | 64,538 | 1 | $1,069 |
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