Fort Smith, Arkansas has 5 accredited schools offering general studies programs, with tuition ranging from $7,810 to $29,966 per year for indexed programs. Fort Smith has a population of about 89,496. Median household income is $52,692 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Fort Smith, AR-OK metro area, the top-earning general studies-related role is General and Operations Managers at a median $70,330 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest General Studies Schools to Fort Smith
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer general studies programs near Fort Smith, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Fort Smith city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most
recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS).
To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked
against schools at the same credential level:
BOCSCORE
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Fort Smith.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Graduation rate
43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$41,102
Avg net price
$10,574/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats
- Retention rate: 71%
- Programs offered: 68
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arkansas schools on the Arkansas general studies page.
General Studies Wages Near Fort Smith
Fort Smith 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 Managers |
$70,330 |
Fort Smith, AR-OK |
$81,874 |
| Management Analysts |
$65,170 |
Fort Smith, AR-OK |
$75,867 |
| Human Resources Specialists |
$54,220 |
Fort Smith, AR-OK |
$63,120 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists |
$58,970 |
Fort Smith, AR-OK |
$68,650 |
| Writers and Authors |
$47,970 |
AR statewide |
$55,844 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education |
$60,960 |
Fort Smith, AR-OK |
$70,966 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers |
$57,130 |
Fort Smith, AR-OK |
$66,508 |
| Social and Community Service Managers |
$55,450 |
Fort Smith, AR-OK |
$64,552 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 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.
Fort Smith at a Glance
| Metric |
Value |
Source |
| Population |
89,496 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income |
$52,692 |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ |
25.3% |
Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) |
85.9 (below U.S. average) |
BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Fort Smith-Area Cities With General Studies Programs
- Van Buren, AR – 6.9 mi away (23,367 pop)
- Fayetteville, AR – 51.2 mi away (336,152 pop)
- Siloam Springs, AR – 58.4 mi away (21,136 pop)
- Springdale, AR – 59.3 mi away (78,557 pop)
- Muskogee, OK – 61.8 mi away (41,117 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited general studies schools are near Fort Smith, AR?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering general studies programs near Fort Smith. The closest is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR (2.4 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Northeastern State University (51.8 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying general studies roles near Fort Smith?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying general studies-related roles near Fort Smith are: General and Operations Managers ($70,330), Management Analysts ($65,170), Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education ($60,960). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Arkansas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Van Buren instead of Fort Smith?
Van Buren, AR is 6.9 miles from Fort Smith and has its own set of local general studies programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Fort Smith an affordable place to study general studies?
Fort Smith’s median household income of $52,692 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Fort Smith while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arkansas public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
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.
Learn More About General Studies Programs
Other Programs Available in Fort Smith
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Fort Smith:
- History programs in Fort Smith, AR
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- Sociology programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Anthropology programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Political Science programs in Fort Smith, AR
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- Mathematics programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Forensic Psychology programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Child Development programs in Fort Smith, AR
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- Electrical Engineering programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Software Engineering programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Engineering Management programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Geography programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Aviation Management programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Public Policy programs in Fort Smith, AR
- International Relations programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Chemistry programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Physics programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Neuroscience programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Spanish programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Film programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Fashion programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Architecture programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Urban Planning programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Industrial Design programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Game Design programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Instructional Design programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Higher Education Administration programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Global Health programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Art History programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Creative Writing programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Environmental Science programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Nutrition programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Theology programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Library Science programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Applied Behavior Analysis programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Medical Billing and Coding programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Medical Assistant programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Pharmacy Technician programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Health Science programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Occupational Safety and Health programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Entrepreneurship programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Interior Design programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Photography programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Sustainability Management programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Behavioral Health Science programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Mental Health Counseling programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Substance Abuse Counseling programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Journalism programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Public Relations programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Communication Disorders programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Speech Pathology programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Technical Communication programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Professional Writing programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Strategic Communications programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Business Development programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Construction Management programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Economics programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Financial Technology programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Forensic Accounting programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Health Information Management programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Hospitality Management programs in Fort Smith, AR
- International Business programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Organizational Leadership programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Management Information Systems programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Nonprofit Management programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Operations Management programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Public Administration programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Real Estate programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Recreation Management programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Retail Management programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Risk Management programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Statistics programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Taxation programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Corrections programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Crime Analysis programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Criminal Justice Administration programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Criminology programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Cybercrime programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Emergency Management programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Fire Science programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Forensic Science programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Legal Services programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Legal Studies programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Paralegal programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Security Management programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Cloud Computing programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Computer Engineering programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Innovation programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Mobile App Development programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Software Development programs in Fort Smith, AR
- User Experience programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Web Development programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Artificial Intelligence programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Machine Learning programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Supply Chain Management programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Data Analytics programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Public Health programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Human Resources programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Project Management programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Special Education programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Homeland Security programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Marketing programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Finance programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Kinesiology programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Sports Management programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Early Childhood Education programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Elementary Education programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Biology programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Communications programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Graphic Design programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Human Services programs in Fort Smith, AR
- MBA programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Criminal Justice programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Nursing programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Business Administration programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Computer Science programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Psychology programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Education programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Engineering programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Technology programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Liberal Arts programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Healthcare programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Cybersecurity programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Accounting programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Healthcare Administration programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Social Work programs in Fort Smith, AR
- Counseling programs in Fort Smith, AR
Data verified: September 5, 2026.
Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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