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Colleges of Distinction: Arkansas
2022-2023 Public Colleges of Distinction

Arkansas Tech University

Russellville, Arkansas

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Arkansas Tech University students, faculty and staff are always working toward a better tomorrow. With an enrollment of just over 12,000 students, Arkansas Tech is the third-largest institution of higher learning in the state. With free tutoring, one-on-one academic coaching, and an academic advising center, students are never just a number. Arkansas Tech is a family that helps all students succeed.

With leading programs in areas such as nursing, STEM, business, and more, Arkansas Tech is a place where students can chart a career path and have the resources to follow it through. Personalized instruction, leadership opportunities, and a focus on student engagement inside and outside the classroom all together make Arkansas Tech a great place for students to begin their journey.

Get to know Arkansas Tech University

10,110
Degree-Seeking Undergraduates
Enrolled female students
56%
 
Enrolled male students
44%
 
Gender Ratio
Full-time students
62%
 
Part-time students
38%
 
Full-time to Part-time Ratio
-0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%9%10%11%12%13%14%15%16%17%18%19%20%21%22%23%24%25%26%27%28%29%30%31%32%33%34%35%36%37%38%39%40%41%42%43%44%45%46%47%48%49%50%51%52%53%54%55%56%57%58%59%60%61%62%63%64%65%66%67%68%69%70%71%72%73%74%75%76%77%78%79%80%81%82%83%84%85%86%87%88%89%90%91%92%93%94%95%96%97%98%99%100%
Retention rate
Full-time faculty
99%
 
Adjuncts
1%
 
Faculty Ratio
17:1
Student/teacher ratio
$5,568
In-state tuition cost
$11,136
Out-of-state tuition cost
-0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%9%10%11%12%13%14%15%16%17%18%19%20%21%22%23%24%25%26%27%28%29%30%31%32%33%34%35%36%37%38%39%40%41%42%43%44%45%46%47%48%49%50%51%52%53%54%55%56%57%58%59%60%61%62%63%64%65%66%67%68%69%70%71%72%73%74%75%76%77%78%79%80%81%82%83%84%85%86%87%88%89%90%91%92%93%94%95%96%97%98%99%100%
6-year graduation rate
Rolling
Application deadline
-0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%9%10%11%12%13%14%15%16%17%18%19%20%21%22%23%24%25%26%27%28%29%30%31%32%33%34%35%36%37%38%39%40%41%42%43%44%45%46%47%48%49%50%51%52%53%54%55%56%57%58%59%60%61%62%63%64%65%66%67%68%69%70%71%72%73%74%75%76%77%78%79%80%81%82%83%84%85%86%87%88%89%90%91%92%93%94%95%96%97%98%99%100%
Acceptance rate
-0%1%2%3%4%5%6%7%8%9%10%11%12%13%14%15%16%17%18%19%20%21%22%23%24%25%26%27%28%29%30%31%32%33%34%35%36%37%38%39%40%41%42%43%44%45%46%47%48%49%50%51%52%53%54%55%56%57%58%59%60%61%62%63%64%65%66%67%68%69%70%71%72%73%74%75%76%77%78%79%80%81%82%83%84%85%86%87%88%89%90%91%92%93%94%95%96%97%98%99%100%
Out-of-state students

Benefits

Student Activities

Student Activities

  • Campus Ministries
  • Choral groups
  • Concert band
  • Dance
  • Drama/theatre
  • International Student Organization
  • Jazz band
  • Literary magazine
  • Marching band
  • Model UN
  • Music ensembles
  • Musical theatre
  • Pep band
  • Radio station
  • Student government
  • Student newspaper
  • Symphony orchestra
  • Television station
SHOW MORE
High-Impact Practices

High-Impact Practices

  • First-Year Seminars and Experiences
  • Learning Communities
  • Collaborative Assignments and Projects
  • Undergraduate Research
  • Diversity/Global Learning
  • Service-Learning, Community-Based Learning
  • Internships/Coops/Practicums
  • Capstone Courses and Projects/Senior Experience
SHOW MORE
Campus Resources

Campus Resources

  • Career Services
  • Academic Advisors
  • Library Services
  • Faculty Mentors
  • Disability Services
  • Multicultural Engagement Center
  • Health Services
  • Academic Tutors
  • Financial Aid Advisors
  • Student Success Initiative
  • Veteran Services
  • Peer Mentors
  • Counseling
SHOW MORE
SHOW MORE

College Highlights

Engaged Students
Great Teaching
Vibrant Communities
Successful Outcomes
Admission & Aid
2022-2023 Equity & Inclusion Colleges of Distinction
2022-2023 Career Development Colleges of Distinction
2022-2023 Business Colleges of Distinction
2022-2023 Education Colleges of Distinction
2022-2023 Military Support Colleges of Distinction
2022-2023 Affordable Colleges of Distinction
Engaged Students

GET YOUR EDUCATION ON TRACK
Arkansas Tech’s On Track program is a unique opportunity for students to get to know their classmates and supplement their coursework. On Track offers seven tracks that focus on wellness, leadership, citizenship, global cultures, and career building. Within each track are several events—lectures, activities, workshops—through which students become qualified in that field.

Students in the program learn more about their campus and their classmates while giving back to the community around them through service and volunteering. Upon completion of all seven tracks, they are invited to apply for an all-expenses-paid trip with their classmates and faculty. Past sites have included Washington D.C. and Seattle.

REDESIGNED FOR RESEARCH
At Arkansas Tech University, research isn’t limited to faculty or graduate students. The Undergraduate Research program offers resources for students to apply for grants, connect with faculty, and get started on in-depth research proposals. Students can even present their work at the annual Student Research Symposium, where faculty, staff, family, and friends come to see the findings of Arkansas Tech students, from freshmen to seniors. In addition to research outside of the classroom, faculty have started to redesign courses to place a greater emphasis on research and independent inquiry. Whatever and however students prefer to research, students are able to use research opportunities to make the world a better place.

GO GLOBAL
Arkansas Tech students have several opportunities to take what they’ve learned in Russellville across the globe through study abroad. Students can go for a whole year, for a semester, or for just a few weeks on a faculty-led trip. There are boundless opportunities to become immersed in the local language, get a closer look at the local wildlife, and learn from global experts in a field of study. Destinations include Spain, Austria, Germany and more.  

“Playing volleyball at Arkansas Tech has been my goal for as long as I can remember. Being a record-setting player and a health and PE student spikes my stress. Here, I’m set up with the support I need to succeed both on and off the court.” – Hunter Eshnaur

ENROLLMENT BY ETHNICITY
Non-U.S. Citizen: 2%
Hispanic/Latinx: 10%
Black or African American, non-Hispanic: 6%
White, non-Hispanic: 75%
Native/Indigenous American or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic: 1%
Asian, non-Hispanic: 2%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic: 0%
Two or more races, non-Hispanic: 4%
Race and/or ethnicity unknown: 0%

Great Teaching

FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE
Students beginning their first year at Arkansas Tech are offered numerous resources to become more familiar with their campus and community. Throughout their very first week, Arkansas Tech helps students set goals and use success strategies. They then take a first-year experience course that aligns with their major and gives an early roadmap to success. With helpful tips on networking, study habits, faculty connections, and career resources, the first year at Arkansas Tech equips students with the tools to prepare for the next three.

“After a year at an out-of-state college, I transferred to ATU to study digital marketing. Here, I got more than I bargained for with great scholarship opportunities, an instant community, and real-world experience to set me up for my career.” – Kamaron Thompson

CROSS THE BRIDGE TO SUCCESS
Outside of the first-year requirements, students can participate in the Bridge to Excellence Freshman Mentoring Program. Students new to Arkansas Tech are paired with a faculty or staff member who helps ease the transition for students coming into college. Building strong relationships early on has paid dividends for participants, each of whom get a personal mentor to encourage and educate them throughout their first year and beyond.

SPECIAL STUDY OPTIONS
Programs available at this institution.
Accelerated program
Distance learning
Double major
Dual enrollment
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Honors Program
Independent study
Internships
Study abroad
Teacher certification program
Weekend college

Vibrant Communities

LIVING-LEARNING COMMUNITIES
All freshmen are required to live on campus, which offers a variety of options for students to live with others who share their interests. For example, Arkansas Tech offers a number of Living-Learning Communities, where students can learn about the university’s resources, garner academic success strategies, and build relationships within a cohort of students of the same major or extra-curricular interests. LLC themes include Engineering, Leadership, Civic Engagement, and more.

“After growing up in a small town, I wanted to be involved but not get lost in the crowd. At Arkansas Tech, I’ve grown my network and leadership skills in several campus clubs. I’m studying math and science education with a coaching endorsement with plans to teach in a rural school district.” – Lindsey Greenup

YEAR-ROUND SERVICE
The Office of Civic Engagement helps students make connections between their coursework and the needs of the community through hands-on service. The office not only works individually with students to find a project that interests them, but it also organizes initiatives and trips for group outings. Alternative Spring Break, for example, takes students to an underserved community over spring break, during which participants learn about marginalized populations and how to get involved with positive change. Students who complete 100 service hours in their time at Arkansas Tech can receive the Service Excellence Award, and those who log the most service hours each month receive a $25 gift card.

SCHOOL LOCATION
Arkansas Tech is located in Russellville, the heart of the Arkansas River Valley. Go camping and fishing along the Arkansas River, go north to Missouri, or go south and check out Little Rock; there are more than 150 miles of trails and 7 state parks to enjoy.

ATHLETICS
The Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys and Golden Suns participate in 10 NCAA Division II sports.

Wonder Boys (Men’s) Teams: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf
Golden Suns (Women’s) Teams: Basketball, Cross Country, Golf, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball

RESIDENCE LIFE
Percent of students living on campus.
First-time, first-year (freshman) students: 57%
Undergraduates: 28%

Campus housing options.
Coed Dorms
Men’s dorms
Women’s dorms
Apartments for single students
Special housing for disabled students
Fraternity/sorority housing
Theme housing

Successful Outcomes

INTERNSHIPS
Arkansas Tech emphasizes the need for practical and experiential learning in addition to traditional coursework. Through internships, students can learn from industry professionals and work on real-world business problems, engaging with coworkers and clients to bring classroom learning to life. The Norman Career Services office provides students with the resources to find and land the perfect internships with personalized career coaching, résumé reviews, and events throughout the year.

“I knew engineering would be a challenge, but that hasn’t stopped me. Here, I created a new organization and networking opportunities for women in STEM fields.” – Emily Torrealba

STAND OUT THROUGH CAPSTONES
Outstanding students can graduate with distinction through completion of a major-specific capstone course. The capstone is an opportunity to learn more about oneself and the workforce they will enter after graduation. Students can test their abilities and challenge themselves in a self-directed accelerated curriculum, culminating in a presentation that demonstrates what they have learned.

Admission & Aid

Admission

TEST SCORES
Recommended but not required

ADMISSIONS FACTORS
Very Important
Academic GPA | Standardized test scores

Important
Rigor of secondary school record

Considered
Class rank

FRESHMAN PROFILE
SAT Math
25th Percentile: 500 | 75th Percentile: 620
ACT Composite
25th Percentile: 18 | 75th Percentile: 25
ACT Math
25th Percentile: 17 | 75th Percentile: 25
ACT English
25th Percentile: 19 | 75th Percentile: 26

Tuition & Cost

Tuition (in-state): $5,568
Tuition (out-of-state): $11,136
Fees: $2,100
Room: $4,900
Board: $3,854

ACCESS THE MEANS TO PURSUE YOUR DEGREE
There’s more to affordability than calculating tuition and book fees. Pope County, Arkansas, offers a low cost-of-living and several amenities. High graduation rates, high median earnings 10 years after college and affordable tuition all add up to an incredible value. Learn more about how Arkansas Tech is focused on providing access to degree completion.

What Others are Saying

“As a first-generation college student from a single-parent household, I have overcome many challenges. At Arkansas Tech, I have received the encouragement and financial aid I need in order to persist to graduation. Now I’m learning to help others conquer their own obstacles as a rehab science and psychology major.”
— Elmer Evangelista

Contact Arkansas Tech University

Contact Admissions

www.atu.edu/admissions

Campus Location

215 West O Street
Russellville, AR 72801

(844) 804-2628

Find ATU Online

www.atu.edu

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