Area high school graduates don’t have to travel far to pursue a variety of educational options.
Northwest Arkansas is home to two state universities; a law school; a two-year community college; two private, Christian universities; and a technical institute.
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville had a 2009 enrollment of 19,849, including undergraduate, graduate and law school students.
The anchor of the statewide University of Arkansas System is the home of Razorbacks athletics, more than 200 academic programs and 87 bachelor’s degrees in 74 fields of study.
As a land-grant institution, the university also serves to advance research, boasting academic centers in areas such as agriculture, poultry science, data security and nanoscale technology.
Chancellor G. David Gearhart plans to lead the campus through an ambitious facilities upgrade plan, renovating buildings with private funds, addressing deferred maintenance through a per-credit-hour fee, and paying for energy-efficiency upgrades through a performance contract that redirects money once spent on utilities toward building costs.
Last school year, UA announced plans to rehabilitate historic Ozark, Peabody and Vol Walker halls. A private donation will finance a major expansion of Vol Walker to house programs in design and architecture.
Former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton once were faculty members at the UA School of Law.
In addition to a traditional juris doctorate, the school offers a master of laws degree specializing in agricultural and food policy.
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith
The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith also is part of the statewide University of Arkansas System.
Formerly Westark Community College, the campus became a full, four-year university in 2002. UA-Fort Smith offers certificates, associates and bachelors degrees, and vocationally specific programs.
The growing campus enrolled more than 7,300 students last spring.
The UA-Fort Smith Lions athletic program was granted provisional membership as an NCAA Division II school last year. It is now eligible for full membership in the league.
Northwest Arkansas Community College
Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville is one of the state’s largest two-year colleges.
The quickly growing college enrolled 8,006 students in the fall of 2009, up 10.9 percent from the previous year.
The college is a popular option for local students. The Office of Institutional Research stated in its 2009 annual report that more than 20 percent of graduating seniors from Rogers, Bentonville and Pea Ridge high schools chose to attend the school.
Northwest Arkansas Community College was founded in 1989, when Rogers and Bentonville voters approved a 3-mill property tax to finance its creation.
The college offers day and evening classes toward associate degrees and professional certificates at its campus near Rogers, at College at the Crossing in Bella Vista, and in cooperation with local high schools.
The community college offers 18 associate of applied science degrees with varying concentrations, transfer degrees for students intending to continue at four-year institutions, and professional certificates in areas including culinary arts, dental assistance, logistics management and law enforcement.
The campus is home to centers committed to entrepreneurship, global business development and the prevention and detection of child abuse.
John Brown University
John Brown University in Siloam Springs is an interdenominational Christian university, founded in 1919 by Salvation Army evangelist John Brown.
The school’s 2,000-plus enrollment of 2009 came from 40 states and 45 countries.
International enrollment is boosted by the Walton International Scholarship Program. The program, founded and financed by the family of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. founder Sam Walton, provides full scholarships to three universities to students from eight central and south American countries.
JBU has 47 undergraduate majors, including programs in growing fields such as digital media, renewable energy and international business.
The school has six graduate degree programs including a master’s in leadership and ethics, offered through its Soderquist Center for Leadership and Ethics, founded by former Wal-Mart executive Don Soderquist.
The campus also is home to the Center for Relationship Enrichment, which supports graduate degrees in marriage and family therapy and community counseling.
University of the Ozarks
The University of the Ozarks is a four-year school based in Clarksville and affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The school supports Christianity, but it admits students from a wide range of spiritual backgrounds, including Zen Buddhists and Muslims, according to its website.
University of the Ozarks offers 60 majors, minors and academic programs.
The 30-acre campus includes the Raymond Munger Memorial Chapel, site of Tuesday morning worship services.
Northwest Technical Institute
Springdale’s Northwest Technical Institute offers 12 diploma programs in professional fields including ammonia refrigeration technology and practical nursing.
The school, supported by the Arkansas Department of Career Education, also offers community courses in skill areas like computer software, medical coding, and Spanish and adult programs, which allow students to increase English proficiency or complete a General Education Development diploma.