Unfunded Liability
$4.50B
actuarial shortfall
FY2023 data · Public Plans Database
Arkansas Teachers Retirement System
A full financial snapshot of Arkansas Teachers Retirement System: funded ratio, unfunded liability, member counts, and investment returns, drawn from 23 years of history in the Public Plans Database (Boston College CRR) and verified against actuarial valuations.
By PlainPension · · Arkansas · Teachers Plan · Data through FY2023
- Funded ratio
- 82.1%
- Health grade
- BReported funded ratio above the portfolio average range
- Market assets
- $20.68B
- Members
- 140,388
According to the Public Plans Database, compiled by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research, Arkansas Teachers Retirement System is one of 197 public pension plans tracked nationwide. The plan card reports FY2023 valuation figures; the multi-year table includes FY2024 where PPD published it; this site’s database copy was last loaded in July 2026. See our methodology for the full source and update cadence.
Total Members
140,388
active + retired + vested
1-Year Return
9.2%
net investment return
-0.2pp vs 5-yr avg
5-Year Avg Return
9.4%
annualized, net of fees
How Arkansas Teachers Retirement System Funded Ratio Compares
Plan Funded Ratio 82.1%
National avg
A ratio of 82.1% compared against the national public-pension average of 75.5%.
Healthy Threshold
Plans above 80% are generally considered adequately funded by NASRA standards.
Participant Composition
The active-to-retiree ratio is a leading indicator of long-term plan sustainability, plans with more retirees than active contributors face mounting cash-flow pressure as benefit payments outpace incoming contributions.
Investment Policy Mix
Public pension plans report their asset allocation in their annual CAFR and actuarial valuation. Equity-heavy mixes capture market upside but introduce volatility; fixed-income tilts protect funded status during downturns at the cost of long-run return.
Historical Funded Ratio
| Year | Funded Ratio |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 84.6% |
| 2023 | 82.1% |
| 2022 | 82.3% |
| 2021 | 80.6% |
| 2020 | 80.6% |
| 2019 | 80.2% |
| 2018 | 80.0% |
| 2017 | 79.5% |
| 2016 | 81.0% |
| 2015 | 79.6% |
| 2014 | 77.3% |
| 2013 | 73.3% |
| 2012 | 71.2% |
| 2011 | 71.8% |
| 2010 | 73.8% |
| 2009 | 75.7% |
| 2008 | 84.9% |
| 2007 | 85.3% |
| 2006 | 80.3% |
| 2005 | 80.4% |
What the Data Says About Arkansas Teachers Retirement System
Arkansas Teachers Retirement System reports a funded ratio of 82.1% as of fiscal year 2023, earning a financial health grade of B in the Public Plans Database. The plan holds $20.68B in market assets against an unfunded liability of $4.50B. As a Teachers plan operating under Arkansas sponsorship, it covers 140,388 members (68,249 active contributors, 57,784 retirees drawing benefits).
Arkansas Teachers Retirement System ranks among the better-funded plans in the database, 7 points above the 75.5% national average across tracked plans. A 5-year average investment return of 9.4% factors into the plan's overall trajectory.
For Arkansas taxpayers and plan members, the $4.50B unfunded gap is the actuarial shortfall this plan must close over time.
Where this data comes from + how funding gaps get resolved
These figures come from the Public Plans Database, a collaboration between the Boston College Center for Retirement Research and NASRA that compiles them from each plan's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs) and actuarial valuations. The relationship between contribution adequacy and investment performance determines whether an unfunded liability narrows or expands year over year, and the gap itself is typically closed through some combination of higher contributions, investment returns, or benefit modifications. See our methodology for how public-pension funding differs from ERISA-backed private plans, and our disclaimer below before acting on this data.
Membership
68,249
Active Members
57,784
Retirees
140,388
Total Members
Plan Details
- Plan Type
- Teachers
- State
- Arkansas
- Market Assets
- $20.68B
Source: Public Plans Database (PPD)
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Boston College CRR / NASRA
Plans With a Similar Funded Ratio
The closest plans nationwide to Arkansas Teachers Retirement System's 82.1% funded ratio.
Other Arkansas Plans
- Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System 81.4%
- Little Rock Firemen 73.7%
- Arkansas Police and Fire 69.1%
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arkansas Teachers Retirement System fully funded?
Arkansas Teachers Retirement System has a funded ratio of 82.1% as of FY2023, earning a health grade of B. This funded ratio is an actuarial snapshot, not a solvency prediction. Compare its valuation date, asset method, and actuarial assumptions before drawing conclusions about a plan.
What happens if Arkansas Teachers Retirement System runs out of money?
Arkansas Teachers Retirement System's reported financial data should be read with the plan's own actuarial valuation and governing documents. This page does not assess legal obligations or predict government action.
What does a funded ratio of 82.1% mean?
A funded ratio of 82.1% means that Arkansas Teachers Retirement System currently has assets equal to 82.1% of its projected benefit obligations. The unfunded liability, the gap between assets and liabilities, stands at $4.50B. This is considered adequately funded.
How does Arkansas Teachers Retirement System compare to other public pensions?
Arkansas Teachers Retirement System is a Teachers plan in Arkansas serving 140,388 members. Nationally, the average funded ratio for public pension plans tracked by the Public Plans Database is approximately 75.5%. Arkansas Teachers Retirement System's funded ratio of 82.1% places it above the national average, reflecting strong fiscal management.
How many members does Arkansas Teachers Retirement System have?
Arkansas Teachers Retirement System covers 140,388 total members, including 68,249 active employees and 57,784 retirees currently receiving benefits. The ratio of active members to retirees is a key indicator of plan sustainability, when the number of retirees grows relative to active contributors, funding pressure increases.
Related
Data sourced from official Public Plans Database and actuarial valuations from federal and state pension systems. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainPension
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Public Plans Database (PPD). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data sources used on this page
- Public Plans Database (PPD) - funded ratios, assets, liabilities, and member counts for US state and local public pension plans, maintained by the Boston College Center for Retirement Research with MissionSquare Research Institute and NASRA. publicplansdata.org
- NASRA - National Association of State Retirement Administrators public-pension actuarial and policy references. nasra.org
Every figure on PlainPension is rendered directly from the Public Plans Database (Boston College Center for Retirement Research), no number is typed in by an editor. This page aggregates this plan's funded ratio, unfunded liability, and multi-year financial history, live from the dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.