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Black River Technical College
Pocahontas, Arkansas · Public technical college · Training programs available:
Address: 1410 Hwy 304 East, Pocahontas, AR 72455 · Phone: (870) 248-4000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Black River Technical College is a public trade school in Pocahontas, Arkansas, offering medical assistant, welding, and CNA programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Black River Technical College has a 54.5% completion rate, near the Arkansas state average of 57.3%, with median graduate debt of $9,500 and median earnings of $34,818 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Black River Technical College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here, and about 37.3% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical assistants | $30,840 | $37,760 | $42,900 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $37,380 | $47,970 | $55,280 |
| Nursing assistants | $28,840 | $34,430 | $36,070 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $30,320 | $44,160 | $57,910 |
| Phlebotomists | $30,870 | $37,450 | $42,180 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $44,670 | $56,620 | $61,220 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | $36,770 | $51,550 | $69,700 |
| Medical records specialists | $33,920 | $41,740 | $51,440 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $28,370 | $36,230 | $41,670 |
| Machinists | $37,760 | $51,140 | $61,380 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Arkansas (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, under 300 hours | 286 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 105 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, under 300 hours | 94 | not reported | $29,141 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 89 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, under 300 hours | 61 | not reported | not reported | $10,605 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, under 300 hours | 46 | not reported | $22,329 | not reported |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 45 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 32 | not reported | $29,141 | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 29 | not reported | not reported | $10,605 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 29 | not reported | not reported | $10,605 |
| Ground Transportation | Certificate, under 300 hours | 27 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 11 | not reported | $22,329 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 10 | not reported | $29,141 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, under 300 hours | 10 | not reported | $22,329 | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, under 300 hours | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 6 | not reported | $22,329 | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 4 | $33,866 | $32,925 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | $29,141 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 4 | not reported | $29,141 | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Black River Technical College is a public trade and career school in Pocahontas, Arkansas, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and eligible for federal financial aid (Title IV). The campus is located in a distant town and enrolls roughly 903 undergraduates, with 938 trade completers recorded. Its top awarded programs are medical assistant programs, welding schools, and CNA classes, part of a broader lineup of 23 program families that also includes auto mechanic, phlebotomy, LPN, CDL training, medical billing and coding, EMT training, and CNC machining.
Federal data show a completion rate of 54.5%, near the Arkansas state average of 57.3%. Graduates carry a median debt of $9,500, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $34,818. About 37.3% of students receive Pell Grants. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
This mix of short certificate programs and longer allied-health and technical tracks may suit both recent high school graduates and adult career changers, though specific program lengths and schedules are not reported for this campus in federal data and should be confirmed directly with the school. Prospective students can verify accreditation status through the Higher Learning Commission and review official outcome figures on the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Black River Technical College offers 23 program families, most notably medical assistant programs, welding schools, and CNA classes, along with auto mechanic, phlebotomy, LPN, CDL training, medical billing and coding, EMT training, and CNC machining programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds active accreditation status.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 54.5%, which is near the Arkansas state average of 57.3%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $9,500, according to federal Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $34,818, per federal Scorecard data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (870) 248-4000 or visit its website for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Black River Technical College is a public institution, which typically means state-supported tuition rates and accountability standards tied to state oversight.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly to confirm program schedules.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission and review official completion, debt, and earnings data on the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?106625.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers a range of certificate and technical programs, including allied-health and skilled-trade tracks, but specific scheduling or adult-learner accommodations are not reported in federal data; contact the school to ask directly.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school for program-specific credentialing information.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Black River Technical College at (870) 248-4000 or through its website, https://www.blackrivertech.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Federal data for this listing does not include comparisons with other nearby schools; use the College Scorecard link to look up and compare similar programs in the area.
Nearby trade and career schools in Arkansas
- Pocahontas School DistrictPocahontas, AR
- Arkansas State UniversityJonesboro, AR · university
- ASUN Commercial Driver Training-JBJonesboro, AR
- BRTC ParagouldParagould, AR
- Lester Gray truckingMarmaduke, AR
- Paragould School DistrictParagould, AR
- The Learning Center of Northeast ArkansasJonesboro, AR
- Arthur's Beauty CollegeJonesboro, AR · 52% completion
See all trade and career schools in Arkansas or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.