Arkansas State University-Main Campus (ASU, Arkansas State University-Jonesboro) History and Academics

History

Arkansas State University, also known as A-State and ASU, is located in Jonesboro, Arkansas. This 1400 acre site is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System; ASU system campuses are also located in Beebe, Mountain Home, Newport, Heber Springs, Marked Tree, and Searcy. Various regional programs and other educational partnerships sponsored by A-State can also be found throughout Arkansas. The main Jonesboro campus is home to roughly 14,000 students while the entire ASU system has an enrollment of over 20,000.

The institution was initially founded as an agricultural training school with a two-year program. Associate’s degrees are still awarded, but the school became a four-year college in 1930. University status was achieved in 1967, the same year that the school adopted its current name. Master’s programs began in 1955 and the university instituted its first doctoral degree in 1992. A-State celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2009.

The university is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools as well as numerous specialized accreditation organizations. It home to the the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, a joint venture among several universities and hospitals aimed at promoting the health of Arkansas residents through agricultural and medical research.

According to its mission statement, A-State "… pursues and shares knowledge within a caring community that prepares students in challenging and diverse ways to become more productive global citizens.”

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Information Summary

Ranks 5th in Arkansas and 487th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	86.9
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$23,101
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	27 / 1196
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	14 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	76% / 32%
Enrollment Total (all students)	13,709

Academics

Arkansas State is comprised of 11 colleges:

Agriculture and Technology

Business

Communications

Education and Behavioral Science

Engineering

Fine Arts

The Honors College

Humanities and Social Sciences

Media and Communication

Nursing and Health Professions

Sciences and Mathematics

The University College

There is also an Honors College and an independent Department of Military Science as well as the Graduate School at Arkansas State.

A-State offers undergraduate majors in all of its colleges, awarding bachelor’s degrees in various arts and sciences, humanities, computer sciences, wildlife conservation, recreation, social sciences, public administration, visual and performing arts, agriculture, communication, and business. Associate degrees are awarded in areas of business, education, engineering technology, health, mechanic/repair, and several other disciplines. The university also offers a number of minors, encompassing many of the standard majors but also including such areas as folklore studies, horticulture, radio-television, and women and gender.

There is an emphasis on business and education among master’s degrees, but social sciences, humanities, and health sciences are also represented. The school also awards specialist’s degrees (Ed.S.) in community college teaching and education. The doctoral degree programs include educational leadership, environmental science, and heritage studies.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Unique Programs

A-State maintains an international program which includes study abroad programs for American students, admission to the university for international students, and a special program in Middle East Studies.

The university is home to the Arkansas Biosciences Institute (ABI), the mission of which is to improve the health of Arkansas residents through coordinating research between its five institutions. The institute was originally created out of a significant tobacco settlement and the proceeds derived from it in 2000. The ABI focuses on agriculture and basic medical research applied to health sciences.

Admissions

Admissions requirement for new undergraduate students include an application and nonrefundable application fee, standardized test scores, and high school transcripts or GED results. The application process for transfer students and international students does have other requirements.

Prospective graduate students must apply directly with their desired graduate department. Graduate students must hold appropriate undergraduate degrees and meet minimum admissions requirements, including undergraduate grade point average. Applicants must provide transcripts from all universities to have attended; application fees may be required.

Unrestricted admission is available for those applicants who meet standardized testing and high school GPA requirements. Students who submit a six or seven semester GPA must ultimately submit a final, high school transcript before beginning classes. Students who do not meet the unrestricted admissions criteria but who do have a 2.0 high school grade point average may apply for restricted admission. Restricted admission is only available to 500 students per session.

Financial Aid

Financial aid includes federal and state grants, loans, and college work-study programs. In order to receive financial aid, applicants must be U.S. citizens, have a valid social security number, be registered with selective service, be enrolled at least half-time, not be in default on any other federal funds, and make satisfactory academic progress.

Arkansas State also offers a variety of academic scholarships and grant funds based on need, merit, or both.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 4422nd for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Arkansas.

Students

Arkansas State advocates that students living on campus will earn higher grades, are less likely to drop out of school, will develop better study habits, will participate more in student affairs, and will have more contact with other students who share their interests. All of these assertions have been documented, and are a good reason that so many students choose to live on campus.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

Arkansas State University is an NCAA Division I school and a member of the Sun Belt Conference. Teams are known as the Red Wolves. Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross-country/track, football, and golf. Women’s sports include basketball, bowling, cross-country/track, golf, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. The university also maintains several spirit groups, including cheerleaders and a marching band.

Facilities include golf courses, two stadiums, a soccer field, tennis courts, a track and field complex, and an indoor arena.

Intramural athletics are also available for students who wish to participate in sports non-competitively.

Local Community

Jonesboro is located in northeastern Arkansas and has a population of nearly 70,000 residents. The landscape is gently mountainous, and much of the local area is devoted to agriculture.

Arkansas State University-Main Campus