Best Trade Schools in Arkansas (2026)

Arkansas trade schools offer practical programs in construction, welding, HVAC, CDL, allied health, and industrial maintenance. Many schools partner with local employers to align training with job requirements.


Best Trade Schools in Arkansas

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 10 schools, ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

The Salon Professional Academy

Sherwood, AR In-state option BOC Score 73.0
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 89.8%
  • Programs offered: 3
  • Annual completions: 87
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $28,025 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

Fort Smith, AR In-state option BOC Score 63.8
Tuition $7,334 in-state / $12,182 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 80.5%
  • Graduation rate: 37.9%
  • Programs offered: 24
  • Annual completions: 571
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $49,998 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Baptist Health College Little Rock

Little Rock, AR In-state option BOC Score 58.6
Tuition $13,987
Contact
  • 11900 COLONEL GLENN RD STE 1000 Little Rock, AR 72210-2827
  • (501) 202-6200
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 95.5%
  • Programs offered: 6
  • Annual completions: 166
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $67,066 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Arkansas Tech University

Russellville, AR In-state option BOC Score 58.4
Tuition $8,674 in-state / $14,668 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Admission rate: 95.9%
  • Graduation rate: 48.6%
  • Programs offered: 42
  • Annual completions: 1709
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $49,759 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Ozarka College

Melbourne, AR In-state option BOC Score 57.5
Tuition $3,820 in-state / $6,820 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 47.1%
  • Programs offered: 13
  • Annual completions: 285
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $46,188 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Arkansas State University-Newport

Newport, AR In-state option BOC Score 57.3
Tuition $3,312 in-state / $4,752 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 45.8%
  • Programs offered: 23
  • Annual completions: 761
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $50,129 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Arkansas Welding Academy

Jacksonville, AR In-state option BOC Score 55.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 94.4%
  • Programs offered: 1
  • Annual completions: 67
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $47,615 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Black River Technical College

Pocahontas, AR In-state option BOC Score 55.3
Tuition $4,776 in-state / $7,488 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 54.5%
  • Programs offered: 25
  • Annual completions: 773
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $48,715 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville

Batesville, AR In-state option BOC Score 54.5
Tuition $3,630 in-state / $4,662 out-of-state
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 65.9%
  • Programs offered: 28
  • Annual completions: 233
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $45,597 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Trade Schools by City in Arkansas

Compare accredited trade schools in 38 Arkansas cities. Each city page lists the closest local schools with tuition, median graduate earnings, and the trades hiring nearby.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best trade school in Arkansas?

Schools like UA-Pulaski Tech, ASU-Beebe, and Arkansas Tech-Ozark offer a broad range of technical programs. Private providers may specialize in welding, CDL, or healthcare. Compare accreditation, costs, and outcomes.

Are Arkansas community colleges considered trade schools?

Yes. Many Arkansas community colleges offer technical certificates and AAS degrees that function like trade school pathways.

What trades are in demand in Arkansas in 2025?

Popular training areas typically include HVAC, welding, electrical, CDL, patient care, and industrial technologies. Verify local licensing and demand in your area.


Explore accredited programs, compare your options, and take your next step.


Outcome figures such as graduation, completion, and job placement rates are reported by schools and by federal data sources, reflect prior student cohorts, and are not a prediction or promise of future results. Individual outcomes may vary.


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)