Arkansas programs

Accredited OT programs in Arkansas, compared

Compare every active, primary ACOTE-accredited occupational therapy master's or doctoral program in Arkansas. Established and newer programs stay visible, with their NBCOT evidence coverage clearly separated.

5 active primary OT programs2 with five-year outcomes2 with limited outcomes10 total ACOTE directory rows5 OTA rows

Complete active-program comparison

All primary accredited OT programs in Arkansas

This table no longer filters Arkansas through a national top-results subset. It includes every active, primary accredited OT program in the state. Complete five-year NBCOT histories rank first; limited-history and no-match programs follow in clearly labeled evidence tiers.

5 active primary OT programs comparedSources reviewed August 7, 20262 complete; 2 limited; 1 without a match

5 ranked options

#1of 5 ranked

Rank #1

University of Central Arkansas

Open profile

NBCOT98% in 2025; 98.8% five-year average

LocationConway, AR

CredentialOT Doctorate

Format1-24% distance

Show ranking detailsHide ranking detailsWhy #1 ranks here + 4 source facts

Why we ranked it here Complete five-year NBCOT outcome match plus accreditation, format, value, and state context. Programs with complete five-year outcomes are ordered before programs with partial or no matched outcomes, so missing evidence is never treated as equivalent evidence.

Who it may suitApplicants comparing established outcome history alongside accreditation, format, and available value context.

Keep in mindOT Doctorate in Conway, AR. Complete five-year NBCOT history. Confirm cohort size, first-time versus total pass-rate definitions, tuition and fees, fieldwork sites, admissions requirements, and campus attendance directly with the program.

Evidence tier: Complete five-year NBCOT history
ACOTE status: Accreditation
ACOTE review: 2026/2027
Public value profile: #19; 60.2 scoreInstitution-level cost context; not OT-program tuition

#2of 5 ranked

Rank #2

Arkansas State University-Jonesboro

Open profile

NBCOT86% in 2025; 93.0% five-year average

LocationJonesboro, AR

CredentialOT Doctorate

FormatCampus-based

Show ranking detailsHide ranking detailsWhy #2 ranks here + 4 source facts

Who it may suitApplicants comparing established outcome history alongside accreditation, format, and available value context.

Keep in mindOT Doctorate in Jonesboro, AR. Complete five-year NBCOT history. Confirm cohort size, first-time versus total pass-rate definitions, tuition and fees, fieldwork sites, admissions requirements, and campus attendance directly with the program.

Evidence tier: Complete five-year NBCOT history
ACOTE status: Accreditation
ACOTE review: 2034/2035
Public value profile: #8; 65.6 scoreInstitution-level cost context; not OT-program tuition

#3of 5 ranked

Rank #3

Arkansas Colleges of Health Education

Open profile

NBCOT100% in 2025; limited history

LocationFort Smith, AR

CredentialOT Doctorate

Format1-24% distance

Show ranking detailsHide ranking detailsWhy #3 ranks here + 3 source facts

Why we ranked it here Latest NBCOT outcome match plus accreditation, format, value, and source-confidence context. Programs with complete five-year outcomes are ordered before programs with partial or no matched outcomes, so missing evidence is never treated as equivalent evidence.

Who it may suitApplicants willing to evaluate a newer or less-completely matched program directly with the school.

Keep in mindOT Doctorate in Fort Smith, AR. Limited NBCOT history. Confirm cohort size, first-time versus total pass-rate definitions, tuition and fees, fieldwork sites, admissions requirements, and campus attendance directly with the program.

Evidence tier: Limited NBCOT history
ACOTE status: Accreditation
ACOTE review: 2031/2032

#4of 5 ranked

Rank #4

University of Arkansas-Fayetteville/University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Open profile

NBCOT100% in 2025; limited history

LocationFayetteville, AR

CredentialOT Doctorate

FormatCampus-based

Show ranking detailsHide ranking detailsWhy #4 ranks here + 3 source facts

Who it may suitApplicants willing to evaluate a newer or less-completely matched program directly with the school.

Keep in mindOT Doctorate in Fayetteville, AR. Limited NBCOT history. Confirm cohort size, first-time versus total pass-rate definitions, tuition and fees, fieldwork sites, admissions requirements, and campus attendance directly with the program.

Evidence tier: Limited NBCOT history
ACOTE status: Accreditation
ACOTE review: 2028/2029

#5of 5 ranked

Rank #5

Harding University

Open profile

NBCOTNo matched NBCOT outcome yet

LocationSearcy, AR

CredentialOT Masters

FormatFormat not listed

Show ranking detailsHide ranking detailsWhy #5 ranks here + 3 source facts

Why we ranked it here ACOTE profile scored with accreditation status, review timing, format clarity, value match, and source-confidence context. Programs with complete five-year outcomes are ordered before programs with partial or no matched outcomes, so missing evidence is never treated as equivalent evidence.

Who it may suitApplicants willing to evaluate a newer or less-completely matched program directly with the school.

Keep in mindOT Masters in Searcy, AR. No matched NBCOT outcome yet. Confirm cohort size, first-time versus total pass-rate definitions, tuition and fees, fieldwork sites, admissions requirements, and campus attendance directly with the program.

Evidence tier: No matched NBCOT outcome yet
ACOTE status: Accreditation
ACOTE review: 2032/2033

See the national ranking Read the ranking method

Verification list

Other ACOTE-listed pathways in the state

These records are real directory entries, but they are outside the active primary OT comparison for a specific reason: OTA level, applicant or candidacy status, inactive status, or an additional location of a primary program.

Program	Status	Degree and format	Why it is separate
Arkansas State University-Jonesboro Jonesboro, AR	Accreditation	OTA Associate Campus-based	OTA pathway; ranked in OTA-focused comparisons rather than the OT master's and doctoral table.
Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus Ozark, AR	Accreditation	OTA Associate 1-24% distance	OTA pathway; ranked in OTA-focused comparisons rather than the OT master's and doctoral table.
Baptist Health College Little Rock Little Rock, AR	Accreditation	OTA Associate 25-49% distance	OTA pathway; ranked in OTA-focused comparisons rather than the OT master's and doctoral table.
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas (UA Cossatot) Ashdown, AR	Accreditation	OTA Associate 1-24% distance	OTA pathway; ranked in OTA-focused comparisons rather than the OT master's and doctoral table.
Baptist Health College Little Rock Little Rock, AR	Applicant	OTA Associate Format not listed	ACOTE status is Applicant; listed separately from active ranked OT pathways.

Program directory

Complete Arkansas ACOTE directory

Every current ACOTE directory row is shown here, including OT, OTA, pipeline, inactive, and additional-location records. Accreditation status is displayed explicitly so directory presence is never mistaken for active accreditation.

Program	Location	Degree	ACOTE status	NBCOT	Format and review
Arkansas Colleges of Health Education Private Nonprofit	Fort Smith, AR	OT Doctorate	Accreditation	100%	1-24% distance Next review: 2031/2032
University of Arkansas-Fayetteville/University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Public	Fayetteville, AR	OT Doctorate	Accreditation	100%	Campus-based Next review: 2028/2029
Arkansas State University-Jonesboro Public	Jonesboro, AR	OTA Associate	Accreditation	100%	Campus-based Next review: 2030/2031
University of Central Arkansas Public	Conway, AR	OT Doctorate	Accreditation	98%	1-24% distance Next review: 2026/2027
Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus Public	Ozark, AR	OTA Associate	Accreditation	88%	1-24% distance Next review: 2031/2032
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas (UA Cossatot) Public	Ashdown, AR	OTA Associate	Accreditation	88%	1-24% distance Next review: 2028/2029
Arkansas State University-Jonesboro Public	Jonesboro, AR	OT Doctorate	Accreditation	86%	Campus-based Next review: 2034/2035
Baptist Health College Little Rock Private Nonprofit	Little Rock, AR	OTA Associate	Accreditation	82%	25-49% distance Next review: 2033/2034
Baptist Health College Little Rock Private Nonprofit	Little Rock, AR	OTA Associate	Applicant	82%	Format not listed Next review: 2029/2030
Harding University Private Nonprofit	Searcy, AR	OT Masters	Accreditation	NBCOT outcome unavailable	Format not listed Next review: 2032/2033

Open all Arkansas rows

Local markets

Metro context for the state

Metro wage and employment rows help applicants separate statewide reputation from local job conditions.

Metro	Mean wage	Employment	Concentration
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Metro rank #3; score 63.6	$103,360	760	2.04 LQ; 2.13 per 1,000 jobs
Jonesboro, AR Metro rank #12; score 60.7	$108,210	140	2.15 LQ; 2.25 per 1,000 jobs
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR Metro rank #21; score 58.9	$112,010	450	1.57 LQ; 1.64 per 1,000 jobs
Hot Springs, AR Metro rank #31; score 55.1	$93,950	100	2.36 LQ; 2.47 per 1,000 jobs
Fort Smith, AR-OK Metro rank #134; score 42.6	$95,540	140	1.36 LQ; 1.42 per 1,000 jobs