The Arkansas economy features a diverse mix of key industries. Aerospace and defense, tech, metals production and transportation equipment are all listed among the state's top sectors by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, and all of those career fields feature high-demand jobs for graduates of trade and technical schools in Arkansas.
Matching your training to the needs of the job market in your region can give you even better chances of landing the job you're looking for. The area around Fayetteville in the northwestern corner of the state is a hot spot for tech workers, according to the region's average information sector growth of more than 7 percent during spring and summer of 2019. Graduates of licensed practical nursing and registered nursing programs earned the state's highest average wages in the Little Rock area.
Why is Arkansas Good for Vocational/Tech Schools?
A bachelor's degree is often held up as the gold standard for career stability after college, but career technical education (CTE) programs can offer some upside not enjoyed by students who opt for university programs. The affordability of trade school training is one major plus — technical schools in Arkansas charged students an average of around $3,300 for a full year of tuition and fees in 2018, while university students paid an average of more than $8,100.
Arkansas CTE programs are also a generally quicker route to the job market than bachelor's degree plans. University degrees can take four years or more, depending on your major, but most career-focused programs can be completed in half that time. Certificate plans in certain specialties may take just a few months from enrollment to graduation.
Whether you'd rather go to school on a traditional campus or you're looking for online trade schools in Arkansas, the information on this page can help you make smart decisions about your education and career. Read on for a list of the state's top destinations for vocational students and some tips on how to apply for financial aid in Arkansas.
Highest-Paying and Fastest-Growing Careers in Arkansas
10 Best Trade and Vocational Schools in Arkansas
We looked at U.S. Department of Education data on cost, flexibility and student success to grade more than 700 institutions in the country and separate the best from the rest. Here are the ten colleges that rose to the top as the best trade and vocational schools in Arkansas:
Based in De Queen in southwestern Arkansas, Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas operates a total of five campuses and learning centers in Sevier, Howard and Little River Counties. Student success and affordability were two of the top categories in the data for UA Cossatot — only two other schools on our list posted a lower average cost or a higher graduation rate.
What vocational programs UA Cossatot offers: Students looking for online trade schools in Arkansas can find a range of options here, from an online Associate of Science (A.S.) degree in criminal justice to online certificates in accounting and health professions. On-campus students can also earn certificates in welding technology, cosmetology and broadcasting.
Average net price is a comprehensive measure of college affordability that adds up the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing, food, transportation and other expenses and subtracts a school's estimated average amount of financial aid from Arkansas scholarships and grants. Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas posted the second-lowest net price on our list, calculating a student's average annual expenses at just over $5,100.
What vocational programs Phillips offers: Nearly 50 degree and certificate programs are available at this institution near the Mississippi River. Students can earn certificates in various welding techniques, computer programming or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC or HVACR) in less than a year. Degree-level training includes nursing, business management and information systems technology programs.
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home is one of the top online trade schools in Arkansas by enrollment, reporting that more than 55 percent of the student body took at least some of their courses in the virtual classroom in 2018. It was also the top school in the state in terms of graduate success in the workforce, with better than 88 percent of former students remaining gainfully employed for at least six years after graduation.
What vocational programs ASUMH offers: The catalog here features Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees in funeral science, paramedic technology and hospitality management, among others. Students seeking technical certificates can study construction technology, Web development, machining, mechatronics, automotive systems repair and more.
No other school on our list reported a lower average net price than North Arkansas College. Students at this Harrison institution paid less than $4,900 for all associated expenses in 2018, once financial aid from scholarships and grants was applied. It's also one of the more flexible schools in the state, reporting that roughly 49 percent of students take advantage of distance education courses.
What vocational programs Northark offers: Online students here can earn A.A.S. degrees in business administration or medical laboratory technology, or certificates in subjects like biomedical electronics technology and small business management. Close to 60 study plans are available for campus-based students, including certificates in logistics, computer support, manufacturing technology and long-haul truck driving.
South Arkansas Community College was the state's second-best institution in terms of graduate tenure in the workforce, reporting that more than 85 percent of graduates held down jobs for six years or more after finishing their training programs. The learning environment here is comfortably intimate, as well, with total enrollment of fewer than 1,500 students and a student-faculty ratio of 15:1.
What vocational programs Southark offers: Training students for health care jobs is one of the priorities at this El Dorado school. A.A.S. programs are available in high-demand fields like registered nursing and occupational therapy assisting, and technical certificates can be earned in paramedicine, practical nursing and medical coding. Dozens of classes are available online, for students who need some flexibility.
This institution of just over 1,000 students put up some of the strongest student success numbers in the entire state. No other school in the state reported a higher percentage of first-year students returning to complete their programs in their second year, and the graduation rate here was the best among all the trade and vocational schools in Arkansas.
What vocational programs SAU Tech offers: The aviation maintenance program at SAU Tech works to provide graduates with the skills they need to earn FAA certification and make their living helping commercial and private aircraft stay airworthy. The multimedia technologies program helps students dial in their training by offering concentrations in graphic design, film and video production and simulation and game design.
Arkansas Northeastern College is one of the more affordable trade schools in Arkansas. The average net price here is just over $6,200, beating all other schools on our list but three. One interesting feature of the student body at ANC is that it's heavily lopsided in terms of gender — roughly 62 percent of the more than 1,400 students enrolled here in 2018 were female.
What vocational programs ANC offers: This Blytheville school is one of the few institutions in the state to offer training in steel technology, and the two-year degree plan can be taken either fully on campus or in a hybrid format that teaches most of the first three semesters online. Available certificate plans include clerical support, advanced manufacturing and patient care technology.
Located about 40 miles from Little Rock, Arkansas State University-Beebe is one of the largest institutions among the best trade and vocational schools in Arkansas. Nearly 3,500 students attended classes here in 2018, and the program catalog is one of the state's most diverse. ASUB also posted some impressive graduate success numbers, with just one other school in the state reporting a higher average salary for graduates after their first decade in the workforce.
What vocational programs ASUB offers: Students here can earn an A.A.S. in computer aided drafting and design (CAD), two levels of certificate in power sports technology and 16- or 24-credit certificates in automotive and household upholstery. Degrees in agriculture equipment technology and criminal justice are available as well.
Students at the University of Arkansas Community College-Hope & Texarkana tend to stay engaged with their degree programs past the honeymoon phase. Only one other school in the state posted a better first-year student retention rate than this southwestern Arkansas school. Fewer than 1,600 students attend school here each semester, and the student-faculty ratio is 16:1.
What vocational programs UAHT offers: Knifemaking is a heritage industry in Arkansas — the original Bowie knife was crafted here — and UAHT is keeping that heritage alive by training students in bladesmithing at a new facility in the nearby city of Washington. More conventional vocational programs include study plans in supply chain management, industrial electricity, construction welding, industrial maintenance and early childhood education.
Founded in 1971, this institution in the northeastern part of the state stands tall among online trade schools in Arkansas. Not only did it report one of the largest online enrollment percentages in the state at 49 percent, but it also provides pathways to hybrid and fully online degrees and certificates in more than a dozen career fields.
What vocational programs BRTC offers: The distance education catalog here features fully online A.S. degrees in criminal justice and fire science administration, as well as hybrid A.A.S. plans in crime scene investigation and business technology and a registered nurse program for working licensed practical nurses. The range of online certificate programs at BRTC includes subjects such as microcomputer repair, administrative services, foodservice management, accounting and more.
How to Apply for Vocational School Financial Aid in Arkansas
Finding room in your budget for trade school training can be a challenge, but student financial aid programs can help take some of the sting out of the cost of a college program. Grants, loans, scholarships, apprenticeships may be available, depending on the type of program you're pursuing.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is probably the number-one document you'll need to fill out as you start your financial aid search. Every federal program, including low-interest Stafford Loans and the Pell Grant, requires a completed FAFSA, and most Arkansas scholarships and grant programs also include it among their eligibility criteria.
We've got more info on the FAFSA, like some important terms to know and details about the type of information you'll be asked to provide, in our financial aid guide. Here's an introduction to a few Arkansas scholarships and grants that might apply to you:
- Arkansas Future Grant (ArFuture) - Students who graduate from Arkansas high schools can apply to have their tuition and fees covered for a range of qualifying degree programs through this statewide program.
- R.Preston Woodruff, Jr. Scholarship - Arkansas residents planning to attend college at least half-time can apply for this annual $1,000 award by submitting a 500-word essay on a provided topic.
- Academic Challenge Scholarship - This Arkansas scholarship awards up to $4,000 in student aid over the course of a two-year degree program to qualifying students who score a minimum of 19 on the ACT or 900 on the SAT.
Initiatives for Students in Arkansas Trade Schools
Legislators and policymakers in Arkansas understand the value of a well-trained workforce, and there are several initiatives in place to help students finish school and bring their skills to the job market. Here are a few such initiatives that may be able to help you on your journey from college to career:
Funding for vocational students in Arkansas
- The State Teacher Education Program (STEP) is a loan-repayment program that provides qualifying Arkansas teachers with $3,000 per year in student loan relief.
- The Arkansas YOUniversal Scholarship Search and Application allows students to search the entire financial aid system of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education and submit a single application for multiple aid programs.
Arkansas policies that benefit vocational students
- Fund My Future is a college planning service and student aid portal that gives students tips on saving for college, applying to their chosen schools and navigating the financial aid process.
- The College and Career Coach Program works with students in middle school and high school to help them understand their career options and provide academic tutoring and college prep services.
School-specific program initiatives in Arkansas
- Endowed scholarships at Ozarka College, such as the Dan "Wally" Pittman Scholarship and the Stone County Research Council Scholarship, provide awards of $500 annually.
- The SEARK College Trustee Scholarship at Southeast Arkansas College provides $2,000 in tuition assistance per year to recent high school graduates with a qualifying academic record.
Resources for Vocational Students and Vocational Job Seekers in Arkansas
- You can learn more about state-run trade schools in Arkansas at the Arkansas Community Colleges website, which gives some insight into the vocational college system and its connections to the regional economy.
- The Division of Career and Technical Education of the Arkansas Department of Education has some specific information about Arkansas CTE training programs and associated initiatives.
- Accreditation shows that an institution offers the type of training that meets accepted employment standards, so it's important to make sure your school has earned it. Public trade schools in Arkansas are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and individual programs are accredited by industry groups like the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs(CAAHEP)
Prospective students interested in the nuts and bolts of the Arkansas CTE landscape can check out the state's page at Advance CTE, a hub for general information on vocational training. The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) also offers a wealth of insight and handy tips for trade school students.