UA-EACC received national recognition by USA TODAY as one of America's Top Vocational Schools. The college is one of only four listed from Arkansas, and one of only 117 in the country to receive a 5-star rating.

"UA-EACC is pleased to be recognized as a top national provider of training in skilled trades. This ranking recognizes just how much our vocational, technical, and career programs have improved over the last 8 years. Assisting students in obtaining meaningful careers with portable skills that lead to a family-sustaining wage is an intentional goal that we work on mindfully every single day," said Cathie Cline, Chancellor of UA-EACC.

USA TODAY recognized that short-term certificate training programs are the fastest-growing type of postsecondary credential in the United States. To help students navigate the trade school market, USA TODAY partnered with the market research firm Statista to create the first annual ranking of "America's Top Vocational Schools." 

"This recognition is such an honor and shows UA-EACC's commitment to our students and the community.  Providing needed industry skills that lead to employment is key to our mission," said Jack Hill, Vice Chancellor for Academics at UA-EACC. "Congratulations to UA-EACC's faculty and staff who are leading the way throughout our region and the state of Arkansas," he added.

The recently released rankings were judged on five primary metrics: graduation rate, graduates' salary, years it takes to pay off net cost, social mobility, and diversity.

"UA-EACC's short-term, comprehensive vocational programs are designed to train students for jobs and provide quality skills for the people of our communities," said Christine Williams, UA-EACC's Dean of Career and Technical Education. "Students are offered opportunities to gain industry recognized certifications in their fields of study, and we provide flexibility in scheduling and customized workforce training courses tailored to meet the needs of our business and industry partners," she added. 

Graduation rate measures an institution's ability to ensure students complete their degree, looking at the various fields of study. Graduate salary measures the impact an institution has on its graduates' salaries over and above what is an expected earning, regardless of which school attended.

Years to pay off net price combines the average net price of attending a school and the value added to the average graduate's salary when compared to income of the average high school graduate. Social mobility takes into account how much the positive effects provided by the institution benefit students depending on financial aid. Diversity includes combined metrics of ethnicity and gender based on official government data.

Data on school performance was collected by Statista through publicly available federal databases such as IPEDS and College Scorecard. The data was reviewed on its validity to project student outcomes. The schools were ranked on a star system and excluded if they were unaccredited, failed specific financial responsibility metrics or had a high percentage of graduates defaulting on their student loans.

USA TODAY's recognition of short-term training programs and vocational education as the fastest-growing postsecondary credentials reflects a significant shift toward accessible, career-focused learning pathways. Identifying top-performing schools has been challenging due to inconsistent and unclear research surrounding vocational education, especially for programs lasting only a few months. The new rankings list was created to assist students in finding the right vocational schools.

The University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community College offers affordable, career-ready and transfer-ready programs. With a variety of certificate programs, technical degrees, academic programs, and more, UA-EACC is committed to student success.

View the full list of USA TODAY's 2025 Rankings HERE