Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University is a public research university located in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Founded in 1909, it serves as the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System. The university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degrees across a range of disciplines including agriculture, business, education, engineering, health professions, sciences, and liberal arts. Classified among doctoral universities with high research activity, Arkansas State University supports both on-campus and online programs. Students are drawn to the university for its broad academic offerings, regional accessibility, and strong ties to communities throughout Arkansas and the Mid-South.

Arkansas State University was founded in 1909 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, as the First District Agricultural School, created by the Arkansas Legislature to provide practical agricultural training. Under founding president Victor Cicero Kays, the institution opened to students in 1910 and gradually expanded its academic scope. In 1918, it began offering two-year college programs, and in 1925 it became First District Agricultural and Mechanical College. A four-year degree program was introduced in 1930, and in 1933 the name changed to Arkansas State College. Continued growth in enrollment and academic programs led the Arkansas Legislature to grant university status in 1967, establishing the name Arkansas State University. In the decades that followed, Arkansas State University expanded graduate education, research initiatives, and system campuses, evolving into a comprehensive public university serving students across Arkansas and beyond.