Arkansas Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

The information below is intended to be an informative guide to the many teacher preparation programs found in Arkansas. Fortunately, there are many teaching schools in Arkansas that prepare aspiring teachers to work in the education sector. Scroll down to find lists of top-rated teaching programs, a table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs, and student reviews. For anyone looking to become a new teacher or advance in their current educator position in Arkansas, this guide can help you locate the best program that fits your career goals.

Table of Contents

• Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
• Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs
• Select Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees
• Schools with Associate Degrees in Education
• Student Reviews

Quick Facts

• There are 40 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Arkansas.¹
• 22 schools offer an associate’s degree in education.¹
• 20 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in education.¹
• 13 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.¹
• No schools ranked in Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Education Majors 2022.²
• 5 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2022.³
• 8 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2022.⁴
• 19 educator preparation providers (EPPs) are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.⁵

For not-for-profit schools with teacher degree programs.

Comparison of Arkansas Schools with Teacher Preparation Programs

We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in Arkansas according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure.

While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, it is included in the following table as CAEP provides a highly-regarded accreditation that is accepted in many states.

You will also find data on teacher preparation program enrollment, completion, and licensing exam pass rates by institution, for both traditional and alternative programs, for the 2018-2019 academic year in this table. These data points are collected from annual US Department of Education reports under Title II (Teacher Quality) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which holds institutions and state departments of education accountable for increasing academic achievement through improvements in teacher quality. Traditional teacher preparation programs are usually completed as part of a bachelor’s degree program. Alternative certification programs are typically designed for career changers looking to enter the field and lead to a postgraduate certificate or a master’s degree. Many schools in our table offer both traditional and alternative programs. Take a look at our Arkansas traditional and alternative certification guides for more information.

Finally, we have provided the net price per year for undergraduate tuition, based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).

• — indicates none or not applicable.
• N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.

Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in Arkansas

US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2022

• University of Arkansas-Fayetteville (#64 tie)
• Arkansas State University-Jonesboro (#211-277)
• Arkansas Tech University (#211-277)

US News & World Report’s Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2022

• University of Arkansas-Fayetteville (#60 tie)
• Arkansas State University-Jonesboro (#182 tie)
• Southern Arkansas University (#205)
• Arkansas Tech University (#242-321)
• Henderson State University (#242-321)
• John Brown University (#242-321)
• University of Arkansas-Little Rock (#242-321)
• University of Central Arkansas (#242-321)

Select Arkansas Schools with Teacher Preparation Degrees

Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University (A-State) is home to the College of Education & Behavioral Science (COEBS), which offers CAEP-accredited teacher preparation programs as well as advanced studies in education at the master’s and doctoral levels. Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) degrees are available in Elementary Education, Middle-Level Education, Physical Education, and Special Education. Students who already have a bachelor’s degree in another subject can apply to the alternative licensure programs to complete a certificate or Master of Science in Education (MSE) degree that meets the requirements for teacher certification in Arkansas. Certified teachers also have the ability to take certificate or graduate programs to earn credentials in additional teaching areas. Some certificate and graduate programs, such as the certificate or MSE in Gifted, Talented, and Creative (GTC), are also available online to meet the needs of students outside the Jonesboro area.

University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas (U of A) houses its flagship education programs within the College of Education and Health Professionals (COEHP) at the Fayetteville campus. COEHP offers undergraduate degrees such as the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Teaching in Secondary Education and the Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) in Childhood and Elementary Education, as well as various certificates and master’s degrees in education. Students can work towards teacher certification at the elementary or secondary level with opportunities to complete additional language, social studies, or science education qualifications. COEHP also confers specialized degrees in education including a BSE in Career and Technical Education with concentrations in Business Education; Family and Consumer Sciences Education; or Technology Education. Other unique offerings within the COEHP include the Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages; the M.Ed. in Physical Education; and the online endorsement plan in K-12 Special Education.

University of Central Arkansas

The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) College of Education prepares professional educators in content areas and specialist fields including school leadership, instructional technologies, school counseling, library media, college student personnel administration, and other related professional fields. The college offers five distinct undergraduate programs in Elementary Education (K-6), Middle Level (4-8), Secondary Education (7-12 or K-12), and Special Education, as well as several graduate programs at the master’s and doctoral levels. Most graduate programs are offered online rather than at the Conway campus, such as the Master of Arts (MA) in Teaching and the Master of Science (MS) in Instructional Technology, although some programs do require minimal face-to-face contact. Students are supported throughout their academic careers by the College of Education’s Office of Candidate Services, which provides comprehensive advising services as well as licensure application support.

Schools with Associate Degrees in Education

While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate’s degree can be the first step towards a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred towards a bachelor’s degree. The following Alabama schools offer associate’s degrees in education.¹ Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.

Arkansas Baptist College*
1600 Doctor M.L.K. Jr Dr
Little Rock, AR 72202-6068
(501) 420-1200
www.arkansasbaptist.edu

Arkansas Northeastern College
2501 S Division
Blytheville, AR 72316-1109
(870) 762-1020
www.anc.edu

Arkansas State University Mid-South
2000 W Broadway
West Memphis, AR 72301-3829
(870) 733-6722
www.asumidsouth.edu

Arkansas State University Three Rivers
One College Cir
Malvern, AR 72104-0816
(501) 337-5000 x1100
www.asutr.edu

Arkansas State University-Beebe
1000 Iowa St
Beebe, AR 72012-1000
(501) 882-3600
www.asub.edu

Arkansas State University-Mountain Home
1600 S College St
Mountain Home, AR 72653
(870) 508-6100
www.asumh.edu

Arkansas State University-Newport
7648 Victory Blvd
Newport, AR 72112
(870) 512-7800
www.asun.edu

Arkansas Tech University*
215 W O St
Russellville, AR 72801-2222
(479) 968-0389
www.atu.edu

Black River Technical College
1410 Hwy 304 E
Pocahontas, AR 72455
(870) 248-4000
www.blackrivertech.edu

Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
183 College Dr
De Queen, AR 71832
(870) 584-4471
www.cccua.edu

East Arkansas Community College
1700 Newcastle Rd
Forrest City, AR 72335-2204
(870) 633-4480 x200
www.eacc.edu

National Park College
101 College Dr
Hot Springs, AR 71913
(501) 760-4222
www.np.edu

North Arkansas College
1515 Pioneer Dr
Harrison, AR 72601-5508
(870) 743-3000
www.northark.edu

NorthWest Arkansas Community College
1 College Dr
Bentonville, AR 72712-5091
(479) 986-4000
www.nwacc.edu

Ozarka College
218 College Dr
Melbourne, AR 72556-0010
(870) 368-7371
www.ozarka.edu

Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas
1000 Campus Dr
Helena, AR 72342-0785
(870) 338-6474
www.pccua.edu

South Arkansas Community College
300 S West Ave
El Dorado, AR 71731-7010
(870) 862-8131
www.southark.edu

Southern Arkansas University Tech
6415 Spellman Rd
Camden, AR 71701-1906
(870) 574-4500
www.sautech.edu

University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville
2005 White Dr
Batesville, AR 72503-3350
(870) 612-2000
www.uaccb.edu

University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton
1537 University Blvd
Morrilton, AR 72110
(501) 977-2000
www.uaccm.edu

University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana
2500 S Main
Hope, AR 71801
(870) 777-5722
www.uaht.edu

University of Arkansas-Fort Smith*
5210 Grand Ave
Fort Smith, AR 72913-3649
(479) 788-7000
uafs.edu

University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College
3000 W Scenic Dr
North Little Rock, AR 72118-3347
(501) 812-2200
uaptc.edu

Student Reviews

Arkansas State University-Main Campus
2105 E Aggie Rd
Jonesboro, AR 72467
(870) 972-2100
https://www.astate.edu/

Student Review: “I really enjoy going to Arkansas State University. The campus is bright and very beautiful, and the people are polite and friendly. I think the campus is not too big and not too small, its just right. I also like the diversity of the campus. The mixture of different races and many international students makes everyone feel accepted. Most teachers I’ve taken have been very nice with good flexibility. The class sizes are small so it’s easy to interact with your professor in case you need help. The food and cafeteria are great because you can eat free at the buffet or you can eat in the union which has Chik-Fil-A, pizza, tacos, and more. The only complaint I would have with the school is the Internet service because it is very slow.” -Charles H., student at Arkansas State University

University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 575-2000
https://www.uark.edu/

Student Review: “The University of Arkansas is a beautiful campus nestled in the hills of the Ozarks. I was very satisfied with the quality of the education. The campus is actively growing with multiple new buildings being erected. The city of Fayetteville is remarkably well cultured due in part to the amount of wealth brought to the area by Wal-Mart, Tyson, and JB Hunt. The student body is active and many opportunities exist to get connected to other students on campus. The on-campus food choices are limited and not the greatest, but multiple off-campus eateries are easily accessible on foot.” -Corey T., student at University of Arkansas

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. The Princeton Review. The Best 385 Colleges, 2022 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2021.
3. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
4. US News & World Report Best Online Graduate Education Schools 2022: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
5. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
6. US Department of Education 2020 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx