U of A Moves Up in National Rankings, Sets Records for Enrollment, Student Success and Research
The record-breaking momentum of the U of A coincides with a positive bump in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best College rankings as the university is recognized among the top 100 public universities in the nation.
The University of Arkansas moved up several spots in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, placing the university among the nation's top 100 public universities. The national recognition coincides with the U of A's recent momentum in other areas, including setting records for the number of Arkansans enrolled and total enrollment, as well as records in student success and research conducted.
Within the report, multiple academic programs were also ranked among the nation's top 100 among public institutions, including:
- #11 in supply chain management/logistics
- #41 in undergraduate business
- #74 in Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- #96 in undergraduate engineering (doctorate)
The full rankings of this year's U.S. News Best Colleges can be found on the U.S. News & World Report website.
Record Number of Arkansans Enrolled
A record number of students from Arkansas are enrolled at the U of A, part of a record enrollment of 34,175, according to preliminary fall estimates. The university's undergraduate, graduate and law school enrollments also each reached their highest levels in university history.
The university continues to expand access and opportunity for Arkansas students. Since 2019, scholarship funding has grown by $7 million, with 98% of freshmen applicants from Arkansas receiving awards over the past two years. Major initiatives include:
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Land of Opportunity Scholarship — $200 million scholarship campaign to further educational access opportunities for Arkansas students from all 75 counties, while providing mentorship, networking and career development support.
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Arkansas Transfer Achievement Scholarship — allowing graduates from two-year colleges in the UA System to transfer to the U of A at the same two-year tuition rate.
Record Student Success
The university's enrollment gains are matched by record or near-record levels of student success:
- Record six-year graduation rate above 70%
- First-year retention rate above 86%
- Record fall-to-spring retention rate of 95%
- Record 7,875 degrees and certificates awarded in the 2025 academic year (11.91% increase from the previous academic year)
Record Research Conducted
In addition to setting a record with $230.6 million in research conducted in FY24, the university has invested millions in state-of-the-art research facilities, including the MUSiC semiconductor research and fabrication facility (opening late 2025), the Anthony Timberlands Center for Design and Materials Innovation, the Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I3R) and the Grady E. Harvell Civil Engineering Research and Education Center (CEREC). Together, these facilities position Arkansas at the forefront of national priorities - from semiconductors and defense to health and sustainable design. With these resources, the U of A is pursuing an ambitious goal of reaching $500 million in annual research conducted in the years to come.
Expanding economic opportunity across Arkansas is also a vital part of the U of A's land-grant mission, with the university generating a $3 billion annual economic impact that drives growth in every corner of the state.
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.
Contacts
Brandy Bartholomew, public relations director
University Relations
479-575-2288, brains@uark.edu