Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University developed from an agricultural school founded on April 1, 1909 by Act 100 of the 37th Arkansas General Assembly. It was created as one of four Arkansas high schools to teach agriculture, horticulture and the art of textile manufacturing. Today, the university grants bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees through its various colleges. With cutting-edge research capabilities, Arkansas State is building on its first hundred years and looking to the future.

Applying to college is a thrilling experience, and we're thrilled that you're considering Arkansas State University.We want to do everything possible to answer your questions, guide you through the admission process, and introduce you to ASU.

A university ranked among the best in the south. A city that's growing rapidly and embraces its hometown university. A diverse, dynamic, and friendly community to call your own. 156 fields of study. Caring faculty members who go the extra mile to inspire their students. Over 60,000 alumni who continue to transform communities across the globe. Over 200 student organizations, 16 NCAA Division 1 teams, and unlimited passion for all things Red Wolves.

ASU students have lived in nearly every state and in nearly 70 countries. They've graduated from every type of secondary school. They've been science fair winners, high school newspaper editors, athletes, actors, anime experts, musicians, class clowns, artists, volunteers, dreamers and class officers. At ASU, they come together to create a vibrant, ever-changing, diverse community where lively conversations lead to enduring friendships.

Graduate students are an integral part of our research, teaching, and service mission at Arkansas State. The Graduate School believes that graduate study should be viewed as part of a well-rounded life experience and offers many programs to help support and enrich the lives of our students.It is always the right time to think about expanding your horizons, improving your mind, extending your education. The Graduate School staff are proud to be able to assist you in achieving your goals of an academic career, a new profession, or another life path of your choosing.Dr. Eugene Smith served as interim president a second time during the 1994-95 academic year to lead the university in conducting a nationwide search for a president. During that year, he saw the culmination of his earlier library expansion efforts when President William Jefferson Clinton dedicated the completed project and became the first sitting President to visit the campus.

After an extensive search, Dr. Les Wyatt was recruited from the University of Mississippi and arrived in the summer of 1995. Wyatt's presidency ushered in a new era of campus building expansion, continued enrollment growth, new emphasis on research, and new methods of program delivery, including advances in distance learning and development of new campuses and instructional sites throughout the state.

The new millennium brought an enhanced research reputation with the opening of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, part of a collaborative effort among five institutions to conduct agricultural and medical research to improve the health of Arkansans. Adding to ASU's growing recognition in research, new doctoral programs were added, including PhD's in Environmental Sciences, Molecular Biosciences, and Heritage Studies.

The campus has become increasingly more student-focused, and a number of new facilities have been developed to meet students' needs and interests, including campus housing alternatives and a new Student Union. Campus construction continued in other areas as well, much of it through private gifts, including a $20 million gift from the Reynolds Foundation for a Reynolds Center for Health Sciences. In contrast to the many new buildings on campus, one student facility came down with a bang when the Twin Towers residence hall was imploded in front of a huge crowd of spectators in 2008.

Another major change occurred in 2008 when the university's long-time athletic mascot was retired and the ASU Indians became the Red Wolves.The growth of ASU's satellite campuses led to the official creation of a system office in 2006, with Wyatt remaining as president of the System, and Dr. Robert L. Potts becoming the first chancellor for the ASU-Jonesboro campus. Dr. Potts' term emphasized enrollment growth, continuing expansion of research efforts, diversity initiatives, new facilities to accommodate enrollment growth, and aggressive fund-raising efforts to meet growing campus needs.

Dr. Tim Hudson was appointed chancellor in the spring of 2012. Under his leadership Arkansas State has initiated several projects that are transforming the Jonesboro campus into a destination university. A-State is working to establish the first American-style university campus operated by a U.S. college in Mexico, and has joined with New York Institute of Technology to locate a College of Osteopathic Medicine in Jonesboro. Preparing the next generation of leaders with a commitment toward a global mindset is an institutional priority.

Programs to improve residences through living-learning communities, such as the Honors LLC, and the opening of Sorority Row generated an all-time record for Arkansas State’s on-campus student population in 2013-14. For the past two years, A-State has welcomed the most academically prepared freshman class (i.e., highest ACT scores and high school GPAs). The Carl R. Reng Student Union has been named one of the top 30 in the country.

Expansion of Centennial Bank Stadium with a new press box, suites and club seating is complete as a result of surging enthusiasm for the Red Wolves football program, which has won the Sun Belt Conference championship four of the last five years and made four straight GoDaddy Bowl appearances, followed by a New Orleans Bowl appearance in 2015.