Arkansas has a vibrant and growing healthcare industry which employs a large number licensed psychologists and psychology professionals. And with a statewide population just under 3 million and 19 accredited psychology degree programs, on per capita basis, Arkansas offers one of the largest selections of psychology programs of any state in the nation. Arkansas truly is a pro psychology state.
Some of the top psychology jobs in the state can be found in clinical psychology and education counseling. However, if you want to make the big bucks, as is the case just about anywhere in the nation, you’ll want to pursue a career in industrial or organization psychology. A nice benefit of practicing psychology in Arkansas is that the cost of living, compared to other states, is fairly low – so your salary goes farther and you money lasts longer.
The salary range for experienced psychologist varies from $70,000 on the low end to $102,000 a year on the high end, depending on their specialty. And making $102,000 a year in Arkansas is like making $190,000 in New York. Psychology professionals working in health care or as consultants tend to earn the most, though opportunities in consulting are few and far between.
Arkansas is home to several top psychology schools including Arkansas State University, in Jonesboro, Southern Arkansas University, in Magnolia, and University of Central Arkansas, in Conway. As is the case in other states, to practice psychology you’ll need to earn a doctoral degree in psychology and pass a state competency exam administered by the Arkansas Psychology Board. (The Arkansas Psychology Board regulates all aspects of the practice of psychology in the state of Arkansas.)
Below our editors have compiled a comprehensive list of the accredited colleges and universities that provided associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in psychology.
| Arkansas State University – Jonesboro, AR |
Programs offered include: B.S. in Psychology – Cognitive Psychology |
| Central Baptist College – Conway, AR |
Programs offered include: B.A. in Psychology & Counseling |
| Harding University – Searcy, AR |
Programs offered include: Psychology Major |
| Henderson State University – Arkadelphia, AR |
Programs offered include: B.A. in Psychology |
| Hendrix College – Conway, AR |
Programs offered include: Psychology Major |
| John Brown University – Siloam Springs, AR |
Programs offered include: B.S. in Psychology |
| Lyon College – Batesville, AR |
Programs offered include: Psychology Major |
| Ouachita Baptist University – Arkadelphia, AR |
Programs offered include: B.A. in Psychology |
| Philander Smith College – Little Rock, AR |
Programs offered include: Psychology Major |
| Southern Arkansas University – Magnolia, AR |
Programs offered include: B.A. in Behavioral & Social Sciences – Criminal Justice |
| University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, AR |
Programs offered include: B.A. in Psychology |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock – Little Rock, AR |
Programs offered include: B.A. in Psychology |
| University of Arkansas at Monticello – Monticello, AR |
Programs offered include: B.S. in Psychology |
| University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff – Pine Bluff, AR |
Programs offered include: B.S. in Psychology |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith – Fort Smith, AR |
Programs offered include: B.A. in Psychology |
| University of Central Arkansas – Conway, AR |
Programs offered include: B.A. in Psychology |
| University of the Ozarks – Clarksville, AR |
Programs offered include: Psychology Major |
| Williams Baptist College – Walnut Ridge, AR |
Programs offered include: B.S. in Family Psychology |