These are the best community colleges in Arkansas: study

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Arkansans looking to get their associate degrees in the Natural State have solid options, according to a new study.

WalletHub looked at 653 schools that are part of the American Association of Community Colleges and ranked them based on three key factors: cost and financing, education outcomes and career outcomes.

Within those key factors were 18 metrics that were used to grade the schools and their numbers were weighted to create a composite score (out of 100).

Maryland had the best community colleges of any state with eight schools ranked in the top 50 nationwide, according to the study.

Arkansas had the 21st-best in the country behind Massachusetts and West Virginia.

WalletHub looked at 20 colleges in Arkansas and found Arkansas State University-Mountain Home was the best.

Here’s how the top community colleges in the Natural State ranked among other Arkansas schools and nationally.

State RankingNational RankingCommunity CollegeLocationScore (out of 100)

140Arkansas State University-Mountain HomeMountain Home64.61

245Arkansas State University-NewportNewport64.34

363Southern Arkansas University TechCamden63.83

4117University of Arkansas Community College-BatesvilleBatesville61.54

5166Arkansas State University-BeebeBeebe60.06

6168Arkansas Northeastern CollegeBlytheville60

7170Ozarka CollegeMelbourne59.97

8204University of Arkansas Hope-TexarkanaHope58.99

9219North Arkansas CollegeHarrison58.67

10228NorthWest Arkansas Community CollegeBentonville58.58

11242Arkansas State University Three RiversMalvern58.27

12253Southeast Arkansas CollegePine Bluff58.15

13305South Arkansas Community CollegeEl Dorado57.26

14315Arkansas State University Mid-SouthWest Memphis57.09

15317East Arkansas Community CollegeForrest City57.07

16383National Park CollegeHot Springs55.52

17410Black River Technical CollegePocohontas54.95

18552University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical CollegeNorth Little Rock50.40

19597Phillips Community College of the University of ArkansasHelena47.39

20601University of Arkansas Rich MountainMena46.77

(Courtesy: WalletHub)

The “best” community college was in America Manhattan Area Technical College in Manhattan, Kansas – finished with a score of 70.63 out of 100.

For the full study, visit WalletHub’s website.