University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best programs.
Get Matched With Online Colleges
Arkansas Tech University has more than 10,000 students and is the third largest higher learning institution in its state. The staff and faculty of ATU have created an academic atmosphere aimed at excellence. The school offers one on one coaching, free tutoring, and a customized strategic plan to help ensure student success. The academic advising center never treats students as a mere number.
Search All Programs
Overview of Arkansas Tech University (ATU)
At ATU, you will have a college experience unmatched anywhere else in the country. Students are prepared to succeed immediately after graduation. That is why Arkansas Tech University was ranked as the number one college for “upward social mobility” in the state. It’s also why its alumni work across the globe in more than 35 different countries.
The spirit at ATU is one of overachieving. The staff, faculty, and students are continually striving for a better tomorrow. No one settles for less than their best from themselves or each other. Arkansas Tech University is determined to help each student reach their goals, as their success is the school's success. From the time learners arrive, they have support through each step of their journey until they complete their degree.
General Information
School Type | Public |
---|---|
Campus Setting | Town: Remote |
Campus Housing | Yes |
Student Faculty Ratio | 18:1 |
Graduation Rate | 38% |
Year Founded | 1909 |
Student Enrollment
Total Students11,829
11,015
814
Undergraduate Student
Male 4,957
Female 6,058
Graduate Student
Male 366
Female 448
Explore Map
Top Rankings For Arkansas Tech University
ATU Acceptance Rate and Admissions
APPLICATIONS7,228
ACCEPTANCE6,867
Acceptance Rate95%
Enrollment 2,129
Admissions | |
---|---|
Application Fee | NA |
High School GPA | Required |
High School Rank | Recommended |
High School Transcripts | Required |
College Prep Courses | Recommended |
Recommendations | NA |
SAT/ACT | Recommended |
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | Required |
Application Deadline | March 1 |
Common Application Accepted | No |
ATU Tuition Cost & Financial Aid
The cost of tuition for college can send some people running for the hills. What they do not realize is that the sticker price doesn’t necessarily accurately reflect what the student will pay. Getting a higher education can be more affordable if you take advantage of the various financial aid programs offered all over the US. Every year there are billions of dollars set aside for financial aid to those who qualify. Grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs can substantially decrease the out-of-pocket costs for college.
Those who utilize the financial aid system find college to be much more affordable. Getting a higher education is one of the best investments a person can make in their future so be sure to explore all of the options available.
At Arkansas Tech University, the sticker price for a year of schooling is estimated to be just over $25,000 for out-of-state students and just under $20,000 for in-state students. This includes tuition, room and board, supplies, books, and other various fees. However, the average net cost of tuition, or the cost to the student after their financial aid is applied, was $10,500 in a recent academic year. And, since most financial aid is made available to those who need it most (aka, based on your family’s annual income) you might actually pay less than that when all is said and done. Families who made less than $30,000 per year paid around $9,800, while families who made over $110,000 per year paid closer to $13,000.
Average net price | 2018-2019 |
---|---|
Net Price | $10,537 |
Average Total Aid | $7,807 |
Students Receiving Financial Aid | 96% |
Room & Board | $7,967 |
Sticker Price
- Tuition In-State - $7,668
- Tuition Out-of-State - $13,236
- Books and Supplies - $1,240
- Room & Board - $7,967
- Other - $2,731
Academics
Arkansas Tech University has a dynamic blend of the amenities you would expect from a big school with the feel of a small college. That, combined with small class sizes, is part of the key formula for academic success.
ATU is ranked in the top 1% of nursing schools in the region, as well as being listed number one for online educators in the State of Arkansas. For the last five years, the school has offered more STEM degrees than any other Arkansas university.
The school’s retention rate for full-time students is 70% and 37% for part-time. The retention rate in the nation is 78% on average. The higher a school's retention and graduation rate are, the more likely they are to have quality undergraduate education and support programs in place. Freshman year is an exciting time, but it can also come with some unexpected stress. Being away from home for the first time, living in a new environment, and numerous other factors can cause some students to struggle that first year. How well ATU uses its support network and resources to guide students through those difficulties is a determining factor in whether or not those students choose to return the following year. Returning students who successfully graduate are measured in the retention and graduation rates.
The graduation rate at ATU is a relatively low 38% considering the great retention at the school. However, around 25% of students transfer to another institution, meaning that they may also graduate, they simply don’t do so from this school. Those rates are in combination with an 18 to 1 student to teacher ratio, which is a little high but not overwhelmingly so.
Retention
Rate
4 year
Graduation
Rate
6 year
Graduation
Rate
Student Population Total
Student Population 11,829
11,015
814
Most Popular Programs & Majors
(# of Diplomas Awarded by Subject)
Health Professions and Related Programs | 208 Total Graduates / 15% |
---|---|
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse | 116 Graduates |
Rehabilitation Science | 70 Graduates |
Health Information/Medical Records Administration/Administrator | 22 Graduates |
All Business Majors | 188 Total Graduates / 14% |
Business Administration and Management, General | 116 Graduates |
Business/Managerial Economics | 23 Graduates |
Accounting | 21 Graduates |
Hospitality Administration/Management, General | 18 Graduates |
All Education Majors | 156 Total Graduates / 11% |
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching | 48 Graduates |
Elementary Education and Teaching | 46 Graduates |
Music Teacher Education | 17 Graduates |
Art Teacher education | 9 Graduates |
Agricultural Teacher education | 9 Graduates |
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching | 9 Graduates |
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 141 Total Graduates / 10% |
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 139 Graduates |
International/Global Studies | 2 Graduates |
All Engineering Majors | 132 Total Graduates / 10% |
Mechanical Engineering | 93 Graduates |
Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 37 Graduates |
Computer Engineering, General | 1 Graduates |
Engineering Physics/Applied Physics | 1 Graduates |
All Other Diplomas | 39% |
Outcome & Salary
Most people want to attend college in order to make sure that they are gainfully employed throughout their adult life. They want to avoid struggling to find a job and perhaps some actually have a career they want to enter but that requires a certain amount of education. By earning a college degree, they can make all of these things easier. They will also be a step above their GED or high school diploma carrying counterparts because degree holders find more opportunities available to them.
With an ATU degree, graduates earn an average of $36,500 annually at the very beginning of their careers. Once they reach mid-career, their salary expectations increase to $56,300. Without a college degree, the average salary in the US is $38,792. So, while you could earn a good living without attending college, chances are that you’ll do better with a degree than without one.
Graduates Salary | |
---|---|
College Grads Early Career Salary | $36,500 |
College Grads Average Salary | $59,054 |
College Grads Mid Career Salary | $56,300 |
Return on Investment (ROI) | |
---|---|
10 Year Salary Earnings Potential | $590,540 |
20 Year Salary Earnings Potential | $1,153,540 |
Cost of Education (Net Price) 4 Year | $42,148 |
10 Year Projected ROI | $548,392 |
20 Year Projected ROI | $1,111,392 |
No College Education Salary Comparison | |
---|---|
National Average Salary | $38,792 |
10 Year Projected Income | $387,920 |
20 Year Projected Income | $775,840 |
Related Top College Resources