Arkansas Colleges & Universities

Arkansas schools provide abundant opportunities for students to earn degrees or get career training. In a strong state economy, students at Arkansas colleges can put their education to work.

Universities and Colleges in Arkansas: Growing Opportunities
Arkansas is strongly committed to higher education for all residents who desire it. Thirty-three public colleges and universities plus eleven independent colleges and universities are scattered throughout the state for easy access. Eight of those institutions garnered recognition from U.S. News and World Report in 2009.

The school you select may be a state, public, private, or religious-based one. The degree options to choose from are numerous as well.

Attending Arkansas Schools: Highlights
You'd quickly see why Arkansas is known as "The Natural State." Beautiful natural wildlife abounds, including hundreds of clear streams, lakes, and rivers as well as fifty-one state parks and three national forests. These treasures allow for all kinds of outdoor activities, from canoeing to fishing. Other attractions include more than two hundred cultural institutions, numerous festivals, and the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Center and Park.

Residents of Arkansas enjoy four moderate seasons, Southern hospitality, and a low cost of living. Little River, Calhoun, Pulaski, and Benton Counties offer the highest-paying jobs.

Arkansas Colleges Prepare Students for Diverse Careers
The state's diversified economy encompasses these key sectors:
  •   Government
  •   Manufacturing durable goods
  •   Retail trade
  •   Real estate and rental and leasing
  •   Manufacturing nondurable goods
  •   Healthcare and social assistance
  •   Wholesale trade

The state predicts job growth in K-12 education, government, and food service in coming years, as well as increasing opportunities in alternative energy jobs. Following national trends, healthcare jobs are on the rise as well.

Despite a tough national economy, Arkansas made news in 2009 for its economic resilience. The Little Rock areas was named the 4th strongest metropolitan economy in the nation by Business Week in November of 2009, and the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metropolitan areas was recognized by Forbes as the second best area for recession recovery.