U of A Sets Multiple Records, Ranked Among Best Public Universities

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The University of Arkansas is experiencing record-setting success in several key areas including student achievement, enrollment, research and economic impact, as it advances its land-grant mission to serve Arkansas.  

Student Achievement 

The university continues to break records in some of the most important measures of student success including: 

• Six-year graduation rate above 70% for the first time in school history
• First-year retention rate above 86% for the second year in a row
• Record fall-to-spring retention of 95% 

Enrollment

The university’s growth won’t last forever but is a great indication of the U of A’s popularity as a destination institution across Arkansas and beyond. 

• Record overall enrollment of 33,610 
• Record number of Arkansans enrolled

Research

The rapidly growing research enterprise at the U of A is hard to miss with three major research facilities currently under construction including the Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (I3R), Multi-User Silicone Carbide (MuSIC) National Semiconductor Research and Fabrication Facility, and the Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation. And that’s only part of the story. 

• Record amount of research conducted: $221.5 million 
• Record investment in applied research facilities: $136 million 

$3 Billion Economic Impact 

The university’s impact is felt far beyond campus as the U of A’s annual economic impact to Arkansas has grown to a record $3 billion. Through workforce development, applied research and innovation, student expenditures, visitor spending, construction and operations, the U of A is fueling the state’s economy while adding thousands of skilled graduates to the workforce every year. 

Among Nation’s Best

The U of A is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s best public universities and best values according to rankings and surveys conducted by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes and the Wall Street Journal. 

In the latest U.S. News Best Colleges report, the U of A is 103rd among public universities, tied with Washington State University and three others. The U of A moved up three spots in the Best Values category. 

Several U of A academic programs were also recognized among the nation’s best including supply chain management, which is now ranked in the top 10 nationally, as well as the undergraduate programs in business, economics, computer science, engineering, psychology and nursing, which moved up 40 spots from last year.

The full rankings of this year's U.S. News Best Colleges can be found on the U.S. News & World Report website.

The U of A was also named as one of the 2024 Best Colleges for Future Leaders by TimeMagazine and ranked 25th among the Best College Campuses in America by Niche. 

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.