Colleges and Universities

University of Arkansas Senior Walk

University of Arkansas

The flagship school of the state is the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. It is a nationally competitive, student-centered research university serving Arkansas and the world. It is the major land grant and state university for Arkansas, as well as the state's only major comprehensive research university. The University is recognized as one of the best colleges and most affordable colleges by publications such as The Princeton Review. The University community is committed to excelling at everything it does so that it can fulfill the potential to drive economic development and improve the quality of life for all the people of Arkansas.

University of Arkansas Moves up on Kiplinger's 2008 'Best Value' List

An education at the University of Arkansas is among the "best values" in the country for Arkansas students, and an even better value for non-residents, according to an annual survey published by Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. The University of Arkansas placed 59th on the list of 100 Best Values in Public Colleges for 2008, a substantial improvement from last year, when the university placed 95th on the list. The university was ranked in 50th place for out-of-state students. No other Arkansas school was included in the list. The University of Arkansas placed 5th on the list among Southeastern Conference schools.

"This is good news for the university, and for our students," said Chancellor John White. "First, this is national recognition that the University of Arkansas provides a quality education. Second, it reflects the commitment this state is making to higher education. Last year the governor and Arkansas legislature provided the largest increase in state funding for higher education in 20 years. That allowed us to request a tuition increase that was well below the national average, which is obviously a factor in our improved rating."

Kiplinger's bases its rankings on information from more than 500 public four-year colleges and universities. Academic quality measurements such as ACT scores, graduation rates and student/faculty ratios accounted for about two-thirds of the school's scores. In considering costs, the magazine looked at the student's total expenses for one year, the amount of financial aid available, and the amount of debt an average student can expect to accumulate before graduation.

"The Access Arkansas campaign is addressing this university's need for additional need-based financial aid," said White. "The success of this campaign will be a dramatic benefit for our students. If that also improves our 'best value' ranking with Kiplinger's, so much the better."

• Total Enrollment: 18,648
• Undergraduate: 14,442
• Graduate: 3,137
• In-state students: 13,716
• Out-of-state students: 3,974
• International students: 958
• Women: 49.3%
• Men: 50.7%
• Total Minority Enrollment: 3,341
• Average High School GPA: 3.57

Represents Fall, 2007 enrollment figures.

Culturally and intellectually, the academic semesters overflow with faculty and student musical performances, theatre productions, art exhibits, concerts, poetry readings and visiting speakers - both on campus and at the adjacent Walton Arts Center. The University's Distinguished Lecture Series has featured former prime minister of Pakistan, Benizir Bhutto, and former prime minister of Israel, Erud Barak. It also has hosted Robert Redford, James Earl Jones and staged a colorful debate between political pundits Al Franken and Ben Stein.

• Campus: One with 100 buildings on 345 acres
• Libraries: Five
• Education and Gen Budget: $208.8 million
• Research Expenditures: $95.8 million
• Federal Research Expenditures: $32.4 million
• Endowment: $691.5 million
• Annual Giving: $83.3 million

U.S. News and World Report rankings move Arkansas back into top 130 universities nationally; Walton College among best public business colleges.

The University of Arkansas has returned to the top tier of colleges and universities in the 2008 edition of America's Best Colleges, the annual rating report devised by U.S. News and World Report. The university ranks 124th among all national undergraduate institutions of higher education. The survey data also places it among the top 62 national public universities. The University of Arkansas is the only institution in the state ranked in the first tier of national universities by U.S. News.

"This is a noteworthy distinction reserved for only the best 130 public and private institutions in the country," said Chancellor John A. White. "We have made a long-term commitment to improving every aspect of this university. That commitment is benefiting our students first, and then our state. But word of our growing impact continues to spread and gain recognition. As our peers at other universities see the results we produce, that will be reflected in our national reputation, and our national ranking."

"U.S. News and World Report's annual guide gives us an idea of how we compare with other institutions, where we are strong and where we need to improve, and in that way it is valuable," White said. "We are all competing to be the best, and that competition is good for higher education." The Sam M. Walton College of Business was again ranked among the top 50 business programs, ranking 41st overall. Among public universities, the data puts the Walton College among the top 24 public business schools.

U.S. News and World Report bases its rankings on seven categories: peer assessment, graduation rates, retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving. Peer assessment, the subjective evaluations by college officials from other universities, counts for 25 percent of the overall score. Graduation and retention rates are weighted to account for nearly half of that final score. The university edged into the top tier in the 2005 rankings but dropped back in 2006 to the top of what U.S. News calls its third tier. Its rating system used to have a second tier but now simply splits its rankings into a first tier and a third tier.

Northwest Arkansas Community College

Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) is an institution that fields a team of professionals dedicated to listening to the area business and industry needs. They develop customized training that fits the individual needs of any company, along with delivering that training anywhere and anytime a company wants. Classes are located and scheduled at the request of the client. The location may be at the job-site or at their facility. NWACC's field of expertise covers:

• Retail Services
• Information Technology
• Professional Development Programs
• Health and Safety
• Human Resource Management
• Quality Management Training
• Electrical Training

Programs include Human Resources Certificate, Marketing Analyst Certificate, Electrical Apprenticeship, Industrial Maintenance, HVAC, Plumbing Apprenticeship and Medical Coding Certificates.

Webster University

Webster University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Assosiation. The accreditation, awarded in 1925, includes undergraduate and graduate levels at all locations where the University offers programs. Webster utilizes computer research facilities with over 50 on-line databases.

Northwest Technical Institute

Northwest Technical Institute has served the people of Northwest Arkansas with quality education since 1975. The school provides educational programs to serve the training/retraining needs of students wishing to enter a recognized occupation, or improve their occupational skills and knowledge so that they may achieve stability or advancement in the workplace.