Marketing at University of Central Arkansas

University of Central Arkansas graduates earn roughly $6,400 less than typical Arkansas marketing majors, placing this program in the bottom quarter statewide. At $38,011 in first-year earnings—well below even the state median of $45,394—graduates start significantly behind their in-state peers at Arkansas, Harding, and Arkansas State. The minimal earnings growth over four years (just 2%) compounds this disadvantage, leaving graduates nearly $7,000 behind the state median even after establishing their careers.

The debt burden, while moderate at $20,633, becomes more concerning in this context. A 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable on paper, but it's calculated against already-low earnings. When you're making $38,000 annually, every dollar of debt requires more sacrifice than it would for graduates earning $45,000 or $50,000. The program ranks in just the 15th percentile nationally, meaning 85% of marketing programs across the country produce better earnings outcomes.

For an accessible state school serving a significant population of Pell-eligible students, these outcomes suggest graduates may struggle to compete for higher-paying marketing positions. If your child is set on marketing and staying in Arkansas, the comparison schools show materially better returns. At minimum, families should understand they're accepting below-average state earnings in exchange for UCA's lower cost and accessibility—a tradeoff worth making only if those factors are decisive.