Van Buren, Arkansas has a population of about 23,545. The city’s median household income is $59,420 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 19.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited business administration programs within 100 miles of Van Buren, with tuition ranging from $9,748 to $28,772 per year. In the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, the top-earning business administration-related role is Financial Manager at a median $105,140 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer business administration programs. Distances are calculated from Van Buren city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 4.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 46.0 mi | $9,748 - $28,772 | – |
| Northeastern State University | Tahlequah, OK | 47.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville, AR | 50.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 52.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arkansas schools on the Arkansas business administration page.
Van Buren is part of the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area (BLS area code 22900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Arkansas statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $62,010 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $72,189 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $95,440 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $111,106 |
| Financial Manager | $105,140 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $122,398 |
| Human Resources Manager | $89,990 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $104,761 |
| Management Analyst | $74,490 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $86,717 |
| Project Management Specialist | $65,300 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $76,019 |
| Accountant or Auditor | $65,180 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $75,879 |
| Training and Development Specialist | $51,490 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $59,942 |
| Office and Administrative Support Supervisor | $56,850 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $66,182 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 23,545 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $59,420 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 19.8% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 85.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Business Administration-related employment in Crawford County | 199 workers, 47 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 business administration programs within 100 miles of Van Buren. The closest is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR (4.6 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is John Brown University (52.5 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying business administration-related roles near Van Buren are: Financial Manager ($105,140), Administrative Services Manager ($95,440), Human Resources Manager ($89,990). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Arkansas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Fort Smith, AR is 6.9 miles from Van Buren and has its own set of local business administration programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Van Buren’s median household income of $59,420 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Van Buren while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arkansas public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Return to Best Online Business Administration Programs in Arkansas (2026)