Colleges in Arkansas

Formerly part of the vast Missouri Territory, Arkansas was organized as a separate territory in 1819; it covered what would later become Oklahoma, in addition to the present-day state. One of Congress's first acts regarding the new territory was to set aside land in each county as part of a general school system. The next year, the first school in the region, Dwight Mission, was established by the Reverend Cephas Washburn for the purpose of educating the Cherokee Indians who then lived there. The territorial legislature provided for the construction of schools in 1829, and the state legislature provided for a public school system in 1843. After the Civil War, a new state constitution was adopted that set up a system of public schools for children between the ages of 5 and 21.

Governing bodies & History

Like every other state, Arkansas has a department of education governed by a board of nine members who are appointed by the governor with the approval of the senate. The board appoints two directors - one to serve as head of the general education division and one to serve as head of the vocational technical division. All appointments made by these directors are subject to the approval of the governor.

Historically, Arkansas has performed poorly compared with other states; it was ranked number 32 on the Morgan Quitno Smartest State Award. Teachers' salaries have been low, there has been a large number of small rural school districts and the budget for education has been small. Mike Beebe, who became governor in 2007, has made the improvement of education one of his top priorities, and has rewarded teachers for student achievement.

Segregation

Until 1954, schools in Arkansas - as throughout much of the South - were racially segregated, with blacks and whites attending different schools. That year, the landmark case of Brown vs. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, the Supreme Court ruled that "separate but equal" schools were "inherently unequal," and steps were taken to desegregate the school system. In 1957, National Guard units and federal troops were called in to help enforce a court order to desegregate Central High School in Little Rock. Additional troops were needed because Governor Orval E. Faubus had sent the National Guard to block integration; this force was also put under the control of the federal government by President Eisenhower. By 1970, almost all Arkansas schools were integrated to some extent.

Arkansas colleges

There are thirteen colleges in Arkansas, of which the oldest is the College of the Ozarks, a Presbyterian institution in Clarksville in the western central part of the state founded in 1834.

Economy

Historically, Arkansas has ranked among the poorest states in the Union; in 1880, shortly after the Civil War, it was in the lower 30 (and there were only 39 states at that time). It was not until after World War II that the economy of the state really began to take off; today, it has been ranked by CNBC as the 20th best state in which to set up business, with the 11th best work force, the fifth lowest cost of living and the second lowest cost of doing business. In the two years since 2011, Arkansas has jumped up twelve spots in its business rankings. The world's number 1 corporation, Walmart, has its headquarters there, as do five other Fortune 500 companies.

Manufacturing accounts for about 60 percent of the value of goods produced in Arkansas. Food processing is the main manufacturing industry in the state. Since forests cover much of the state (Arkansas has three national forests, most of their territory in the western half), forestry also makes a major contribution to the economy.

Agricultural products make up about 35 percent of the state's goods. The three most valuable crops in Arkansas are soybeans, grown especially in the east; rice - the state contributes about a third of the national total; and cotton. The leading livestock product is broilers (chickens from nine to twelve weeks old), of which Arkansas produces more than any other state, followed by beef cattle, eggs, turkey, milk and hogs.

Only a fifth of all Arkansas-produced goods come from mining, of which petroleum is the most valuable, followed by bromine (a liquid similar to fluorine, chlorine and iodine), natural gas, stone, sand and gravel, and bauxite (the main source of aluminum). Arkansas is also a leading producer of vanadium, a metal used in making springs, axles and other car parts.

Employment opportunities

Besides Walmart, the five Fortune 500 that have their headquarters in Arkansas are - in order of the amount of revenue that they generate - Tyson Foods, Murphy Oil, Dillard's, Windstream and J. B. Hunt. Dillard's and Windstream have headquarters in Little Rock, Walmart in Bentonville, Tyson Foods in Springdale, Murphy Oil in El Dorado, and Hunt in Lowell. All these companies offer job opportunities for more people in Arkansas than any other employer.

Many Arkansawyers also work in the tourist industry. The state is home to four national historic sites, four national parks, thirty-three state parks and ten historic parks. Some current vacancies, listed on the state's employment website, include desk clerk at Village Creek, skilled tradesman and Petite Jean State Park, group travel manager for the Tourism Division and maintenance specialist at Crowley Ridge State Park. The list of these jobs is changing continually, so be sure and check back periodically. Other employment opportunities may be found by searching on Jobs Arkansas.

Found 105 Post-Secondary Schools In Arkansas


Title City State Type Enrollment
Arkadelphia Beauty College Arkadelphia AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 29
Henderson State University Arkadelphia AR 4-year public 3549
Ouachita Baptist University Arkadelphia AR 4-year private, not-for-profit 1714
Bee Jays Academy Batesville AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Lyon College Batesville AR 4-year private, not-for-profit 471
University of Arkansas Community College - Batesville Batesville AR 2-year public 1024
Arkansas State University - Beebe Beebe AR 2-year public 4899
Otts Aviation Benton AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Arkansas School of Real Estate Bentonville AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Northwest Arkansas Community College Bentonville AR 2-year public 4058
Arkansas Northeastern College Blytheville AR 2-year public 1980
Blytheville Academy of Cosmetology Blytheville AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 40
Southern Arkansas University Tech Camden AR 2-year public 790
University of the Ozarks Clarksville AR 4-year private, not-for-profit 622
Arkansas Beauty School Conway AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 19
Central Baptist College Conway AR 4-year private, not-for-profit 381
Hendrix College Conway AR 4-year private, not-for-profit 1137
University of Central Arkansas Conway AR 4-year public 8481
Forest Echoes Technical Institute Crossett AR Less than 2-year public 153
Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas De Queen AR 2-year public 815
Morris - Booker Memorial College Dermott AR 4-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Professional Cosmetology Education Center El Dorado AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 72
South Arkansas Community College El Dorado AR 2-year public 905
Fayetteville Beauty College Fayetteville AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 27
University of Arkansas Main Campus Fayetteville AR 4-year public 15346
Crowleys Ridge Technical Institute Forrest City AR Less than 2-year public 141
East Arkansas Community College Forrest City AR 2-year public 1358
A Healing Touch Inc School of Massage Therapy Fort Smith AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Arkansas - Oklahoma School of Real Estate - Ft Smith Fort Smith AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Arthurs Beauty College Inc - Fort Smith Fort Smith AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 46
Askins Vo - Tech Fort Smith AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 6
Mellies Beauty College Fort Smith AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 22
Mellies School of Modeling Fort Smith AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Saint Edward Mercy Medical Center Sch of Rad Techn Fort Smith AR 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Westark Barber College Fort Smith AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Harrison School of Cosmetology Harrison AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
North Arkansas College Harrison AR 2-year public 1817
Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas Helena AR 2-year public 2364
University of Arkansas Community College - Hope Hope AR 2-year public 1176
Arkansas Career Training Institute Hot Springs AR 2-year public 139
Broadway School of Real Estate Hot Springs AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Hot Springs Beauty College Hot Springs AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 57
National Park Community College Hot Springs AR 2-year public 2231
Quapaw Technical Institute Hot Springs AR Less than 2-year public 244
Arthurs Beauty College Inc Jacksonville AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 54
Academic World of Cosmetology Little Rock AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Arkansas Baptist College Little Rock AR 4-year private, not-for-profit 201
Arkansas Beauty School Little Rock AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 25
Baptist Health Schools of Nursing and Allied Health Little Rock AR 2-year private, not-for-profit 567
Bee Jays Academy Little Rock AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 44
Carti School of Radiation Therapy Technology Little Rock AR 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Central Flying Services Inc Little Rock AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Eastern College of Health Vocations Little Rock AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 292
Eaton Beauty Stylist College Inc Little Rock AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 20
ITT Technical Institute Little Rock AR 2-year private, for-profit 242
Missionary Baptist Seminary Little Rock AR 4-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Philander Smith College Little Rock AR 4-year private, not-for-profit 845
Remington College - Little Rock Little Rock AR 2-year private, for-profit 515
Thelmas Beauty Academy Little Rock AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 20
University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock AR 4-year public 10968
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock AR 4-year public 1855
University of Arkansas System Office Little Rock AR Central office or Administrative Unit No Data
Velvatex College of Beauty Culture Little Rock AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 22
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia AR 4-year public 2977
Ouachita Technical College Malvern AR 2-year public 829
Great Rivers Vocational Technical School Mcgehee AR Less than 2-year public 182
Ozarka College Melbourne AR 2-year public 737
Mountain View School of Cosmetology Mena AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Rich Mountain Community College Mena AR 2-year public 943
University of Arkansas at Monticello Monticello AR 4-year public 2323
University of Arkansas Community College - Morrilton Morrilton AR 2-year public 1142
Arkansas State University - Mountain Home Mountain Home AR 2-year public 916
Marsha Kay Beauty College Mountain Home AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 14
Arkansas College of Barbering and Hair Design North Little Rock AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 67
Lees School of Cosmetology North Little Rock AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 40
Mid South Aviation North Little Rock AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
National Real Estate School North Little Rock AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
New Tyler Barber College Inc North Little Rock AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 60
Pulaski Technical College North Little Rock AR 2-year public 893
Shorter College North Little Rock AR 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Arkansas Valley Technical Institute Ozark AR Less than 2-year public 455
Crowleys Ridge College Paragould AR 2-year private, not-for-profit 169
De Luxe Beauty School Pine Bluff AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 28
Jefferson Regional Medical Center - Sch of Rad Techn Pine Bluff AR 2-year private, not-for-profit No Data
Jefferson School of Nursing Pine Bluff AR 2-year private, not-for-profit 41
Mark Two Beauty School Pine Bluff AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Southeast Arkansas College Pine Bluff AR 2-year public 1955
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Pine Bluff AR 4-year public 3042
Black River Technical College Pocahontas AR 2-year public 1239
Blackwood Beauty School Pocahontas AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Arkansas Beauty School Russellville AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Arkansas Tech University Russellville AR 4-year public 4970
Margarets Hair Academy Inc Russellville AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 12
River Valley Real Estate Licensing School Russellville AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit No Data
Foothills Technical Institute Searcy AR Less than 2-year public 279
Harding University Searcy AR 4-year private, not-for-profit 4337
Searcy Beauty College Inc Searcy AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 63
Arkansas Institute of Holy Land Studies Sherwood AR 4-year private, not-for-profit No Data
John Brown University Siloam Springs AR 4-year private, not-for-profit 1536
Career Academy of Hair Design Springdale AR Less than 2-year private, for-profit 35

Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

 1 2 >