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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.


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

Undergraduate
11,015
Graduate
814

Undergraduate Student

Male 4,957
4,957
Female 6,058
6,058

Graduate Student

Male 366
366
Female 448
448

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ATU Acceptance Rate and Admissions


APPLICATIONS7,228

Male 3,010
Female 4,218

ACCEPTANCE6,867

Male 2,829
Female 4,007

Acceptance Rate95%

Male 94%
Female 95%

Enrollment 2,129

Male 1,018
Female 1,111
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.

Student Population Total


Student Population 11,829

Undergraduate
11,015
Graduate
814
Evening Classes : Yes
Online Learning : Yes

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

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