Arkansas State University

Home/Colleges/Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University, commonly called A-State, is a public research institution of higher learning residing in Jonesboro, Arkansas. It is the flagship location of the Arkansas State University System. Its mission is educating leaders to improve the growth of knowledge and enhance lives. It is committed to academic excellence, innovative research, and student-focused programs. A-State offers more than 150 degree programs, including a strong online platform, through its six academic colleges. The colleges include Business, Agriculture, Engineering, and Technology, Education and Behavioral Science, Nursing and Health Professions, Liberal Arts and Communication, and Science and Mathematics. A-State is committed to personalized attention and its student to faculty ration is 17 to one.

Arkansas State University was founded in 1909 as an agricultural secondary school. By the 1920s, the school evolved into a junior college and it changed its name to First District Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1925. The college then began to expand and transformed into a four-year college by the 1930s. In 1932, the name changed to Arkansas State College. The college continued to expand and add more students and programs. In 1955, the first master's degree programs were offered. After a long and rigorous process, the college finally became Arkansas State University in 1967. The university experienced rapid growth and the first doctoral program was established in 1992. Throughout the 2000s, the university has become more focused on students and various facilities have been established to meet a diversity of needs. Today, A-State is home to about 14,000 students. The U.S. News and World Report ranks Arkansas State University number 59 in its 2017 Regional Universities South publication.

Arkansas State University Accreditation Details

The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association regionally accredits Arkansas State University to grant associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs.

The university also features specialized accreditation for its online programs, including Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, Council on Sport Management Accreditation, National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration, and National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

Arkansas State University Application Requirements

Undergraduate

  • Complete and submit the Arkansas State University Application for Admission
  • Pay the $30 non-refundable application fee
  • Submit official high school transcript
  • Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities the student previously attended
  • Submit official SAT or ACT scores
  • Submit two MMR health records

Graduate

  • Complete and submit the Arkansas State University Online Application
  • Pay the $30 non-refundable application fee ($40 for international applicants and $50 for doctoral applicants
  • Submit official transcripts from all previously attended institutions of higher learning
  • Submit immunization records documenting MMR vaccine
  • If applicable, submit official graduate level standardized test scores (GRE, GMAT, etc.)
  • Complete any additional requirements for necessary for certain programs

Online

  • Complete and submit the A-State Online Application
  • Pay the $30 non-refundable application fee
  • Submit official transcripts from previously attended institution of higher learning
  • Submit official standardized test scores
  • Complete program specific requirements

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition

Undergraduate

  • Arkansas in-state resident based on 15 credit hours: $4,239 per semester
  • Out-of-state resident based on 15 credit hours: $7,389 per semester
  • Cost per credit hour for in-state residents: $210
  • Cost per credit hour for out-of-state residents: $420

Graduate

  • Arkansas in-state resident based on 12 credit hours: $4,082 per semester
  • Out-of-state resident based on 12 credit hours: $7,286 per semester
  • Cost per credit hour for in-state residents: $267
  • Cost per credit hour for out-of-state residents: $534

Online

  • United States undergraduate residents: $210 per credit hour
  • United States graduate residents: $268 per credit hour
  • Tuition also varies by specific online program

Financial Aid

Arkansas State University offers a variety of financial aid programs to help students with paying for the costs of higher education. The available programs include scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study.

Scholarships

  • A-State Scholar
  • A-State Excellence
  • A-State Leadership
  • A-State Pride
  • A-State Spirit
  • Arkansas Promise Scholarship
  • Transfer Scholarship
  • Out-of-State Scholarship

Grants

  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
  • Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

Loans

  • Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
  • Federal Direct PLUS Loan
  • Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
  • Federal Perkins Loan
  • Private Loans

Federal Work-Study Program

Arkansas State University participates in the Federal Work Study program, where eligible students have the ability to pursue jobs to earn money to pay for their college expenses. The earnings are at least the current minimum wage established at the federal level. Students typically work between 10 and 20 hours per week and receive a paycheck every two weeks.

Online Degrees Available

Arkansas State University offers a variety of online programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to meet the needs of busy students. The Online Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies is a versatile program that extends students' knowledge of how people and entities communication and relay information. Coursework blends communication theory and experiential learning to help students become effective communicators. The program requires the completion of 120 total credit hours. The required courses include oral communications, mass communication in modern society, communication theory, introduction to interpersonal communication, communications research methods, organization communication, crisis communication, and conflict resolution.

The Online Bachelor of Arts in Political Science provides students with a strong background in policy and law including research and advocacy and legal writing. A total of 120 credit hours is required to complete the degree program. The required courses include modern political theory, introduction to comparative politics, American constitutional law, principles of public administration, political ideologies, American political theory, and criminal law and constitution.

The Master of Science in Education in Special Education-Instructional Specialist K-12 provides experienced educators with an advanced performance-based degree that was created in response of the recommendations provided by professional organizations, such as the Council for Exceptional Children. Those who complete the program gain know-how in teaching students who have learning, developmental, and behavioral exceptionalities and collaborating with general education teachers who have students with exceptionalities. The program requires the completion of a total of 36 credit hours. The core courses include contemporary issues in special education, characteristics of individuals with disabilities, educational diagnosis and assessment in special education, educational procedures for individuals with mild disabilities, collaboration for special education service delivery, educational procedures for individuals with moderate-profound disabilities, and special education law. The Online MSE Special Ed Instructional Specialist K-12 from Arkansas State University degree enables individuals to obtain Arkansas licensure as a special education teacher in grades K-12.