Arkansas Tech University

<h4 id="section---Cons"> Cons</h4> <ul><li>Graduation rate is 22 percentage points lower than the national average </li><li>Far from major cities and airports </li></ul><h3 id="section---RankingsSchoolAnalysis"> Rankings &amp; School Analysis</h3> <p>As an undergraduate ATU student, you can choose from 39 minors and 45 majors in a wide variety of programs. ATU also offers seven different associate's degree programs and six pre-professional programs, including pre-dental and pre-pharmacy. The graduate school offers master's degrees in science, education, nursing, engineering, arts, and liberal arts, and the Ozark campus offers associate's degree programs and certificate programs. </p> <p>ATU is home to the Arkansas Center for Energy, Natural Resources, and Environmental Studies (ACENRES), which allows students interested in environmental studies to gain a deeper understanding of renewable energy, water quality, and regional wildlife. An exchange program with Komazawa University in Japan lets advanced undergraduates study Japanese language and culture during a semester abroad. </p> <p>ATU's acceptance rate was 88% in 2012; the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) reports that the national acceptance rate was 63.8% in 2011, so your chances of getting admitted to ATU are better than average. ATU's student-faculty ratio was 20 to 1 in 2011, which is higher than the national average of 15 to 1 reported by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in its <i>Digest of Education Statistics</i>, so your classes are likely to be slightly larger than average. </p> <p>In terms of cost, ATU compares favorably to schools of its type. NCES reports that the total cost of attendance during the 2012-13 academic year, including tuition, fees, and living expenses, was $15,298 for in-state students living on campus, while out-of-state students who lived in campus housing paid $19,786. The in-state cost is less than the national average for public colleges, which was reported by The College Board (TCB) to be $17,860 in that year. </p> <p>The College Board also reports that the average student debt of ATU graduates was $24,409 in 2012, which is $2,251 lower than national average of $26,660 reported by the Institute for College Access and Success. However, at 18%, the 2010 4-year graduation rate was 22 percentage points lower than the national average of 40% reported by <i>U.S. News and World Report</i> (<i>USNWR</i>). According to NCES, 67% of full-time freshmen beginning studies in 2011 returned for the 2012 school year. </p> <h2 id="section---GettingInFinancialAid"> Getting In &amp; Financial Aid</h2> <p>You can apply for admission to ATU online; you'll also need to submit entrance exam scores, high school transcripts, and immunization records. ATU does not charge an application fee. According to ATU, students from public high schools need minimum ACT scores of 15, SAT composite scores of 1060, or COMPASS composite scores of 47. Graduates of private high schools, GED recipients, and home-schooled students need ACT scores of 19, SAT scores of 1330, or COMPASS scores of 68. Applicants should have a minimum 2.0 GPA or a GED score of 450. </p> <p>You can apply for federal and state financial aid by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); if you want to apply for any of the available scholarships, you should note that the deadline was February 28 as of 2013, so your application materials should be sent in as early as possible. The average first year financial aid package was $9,142 in 2012, according to TCB, and 98% of freshmen with need were offered aid. Of those students, six percent had their full need met. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Application and Tuition Info </th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Regular Application Deadline (2013-14)</i> </td><td> None (rolling admissions)****</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Financial Aid Priority Deadline (2013-14)</i> </td><td> Apr 15****</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Application Fee (2012-13)</i> </td><td> None***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Acceptance Rate (2012)</i> </td><td> 88%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>All Tuition &amp; Living Expenses (2012-13)</i> </td><td> $15,298 (in-state, on-campus), $19,786 (out-of-state, on-campus)**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Average First-Year Financial Aid Package (2012)</i> </td><td> $9,142****</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Percent of Students with Need Met (2012)</i> </td><td> 6%****</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Average Student Debt at Graduation (2012)</i> </td><td> $24,409****</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Student Loan Default Rate (2009)</i> </td><td> 18.5%**</td></tr> </table><h2 id="section---LifeAtArkansasTechUniversity"> Life at Arkansas Tech University</h2> <p>Russellville is located a little more than 75 miles from downtown Little Rock, Arkansas, and 112 miles from Smith's International Airport in Sherrill, though a regional airport is located less than five miles from campus. Campus life is active, and ATU offers many student activities. There are over 100 student organizations from which to choose, so there's something to get involved in whether your interests are politics, music, religion, or Greek life. If you choose to live on campus, you have numerous residence hall options; there are 12 campus housing options for freshmen, and students at the sophomore level or beyond can choose from 17 residence halls. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Student Life Info </th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Campus Setting</i> </td><td> Remote town**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Student Population (2012)</i> </td><td> 10,089 undergraduates**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Male-to-Female Student Ratio (2012)</i> </td><td> 45% to 55%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of Full Time Students (2012)</i> </td><td> 70%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of In-state Students (2011)</i> </td><td> 95%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of International Students (2011)</i> </td><td> 1%**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Retention Rate (2011-2012)</i> </td><td> 67% (full-time)**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Campus Housing Available</i> </td><td> Yes**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of Students Living on Campus</i> </td><td> 30%****</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Number of Libraries</i> </td><td> 1*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Extracurricular Activities</i> </td><td> Over 100 student organizations*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Noteworthy</i> </td><td> Home of the Arkansas Center for Energy, Natural Resources, and Environmental Studies*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: *Arkansas Tech University, **National Center for Education Statistics, ***U.S. News and World Report, ****The College Board.</i> </p> <h3 id="section---SchoolContactInformation"> School Contact Information</h3> <ul><li><i>Address:</i> Arkansas Tech University, Office of Admissions &amp; Student Recruitment, 1605 Coliseum Drive, Suite 141, Russellville, AR 72801-2222 </li><li><i>Phone:</i> (800) 582-6953</li></ul>