Arkansas State University

What Arkansas State University does

Arkansas State University is a public, Carnegie-classified R2 research university headquartered in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and is the state's second-largest institution by enrollment with 17,926 students. The university operates a multi-campus footprint spanning the main Jonesboro campus, three Arkansas University Centers (Beebe, Mountain Home, and West Memphis), and two international sites in Qatar and Mexico, delivering 160+ majors across 172 degree options with 85%+ of faculty holding terminal degrees and a 100,000+ alumni network spanning 50 states and 70 countries.

The institution generates revenue through a diversified higher-education model: in-state undergraduate tuition priced at $5,215 per semester and out-of-state at $9,370, supplemented by graduate program fees, auxiliary services (housing, dining), state appropriations, federal R&D funding (including an $18.8M FY2026 federal appropriation), restricted and unrestricted philanthropy (notably a $9.49M Windgate Foundation gift in 2025 and a $7.5M Arkansas Division of Higher Education grant in 2024), and contract training. Student mix includes 1,200+ international students from 70+ countries, over 10,000 online degrees awarded since 2008, and 250+ graduate assistantships annually; $135M+ in financial aid was disbursed in 2023-2024.

A-State is currently in a programmatic expansion phase, anchored by the Fall 2026 launch of Arkansas's first public College of Veterinary Medicine, continued investment in the Center for Advanced Materials & Steel Manufacturing (CAMSM), the Red Wolf Security Operations Center (a cybersecurity partnership with Kalmer Solutions), and the ALLIANCE dyslexia-research lab. Research and applied-AI efforts include a knowledge-retrieval chatbot ('Howl') for student services and AI/data-analytics tooling within CAMSM; these are operational rather than core commercial differentiators.

Name

Arkansas State University

Legal name

Arkansas State University

Website

https://astate.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Arkansas State University is a public Carnegie R2 research university in Jonesboro, Arkansas, serving 17,926 students across main and satellite campuses in Arkansas, Qatar, and Mexico. It offers 160+ majors and is expanding into veterinary medicine, advanced materials, and cybersecurity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Flagship Public Research Universities (R1/R2) (EDAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Research Universities with Multi-Campus Systems (EDAHAAAI), Academic Support & Learning Assistance (Tutoring Centers) (EDALABAF)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate degrees
• Graduate programs
• Online learning
• Research university

Headquarters

HQ city

State University

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary recurring revenue stream collected per semester. Undergraduate in-state $5,215 per semester (based on 15 credit hours); Undergraduate out-of-state $9,370 per semester (15 credit hours); Graduate in-state $5,029 per semester (12 credit hours); Graduate out-of-state $8,977 per semester (12 credit hours). Out-of-state portion is waived as a fellowship for qualifying graduate students (GPA 3.000+, 6+ hours fall/spring or 3+ hours summer). International and online programs have separate fee schedules.
2. Private Foundation Grants and Philanthropic Gifts: Major private gifts fund specific programs. Examples: $6.4 million Windgate Foundation grant for arts education (scholarships, museum outreach, art program infrastructure); $125,000 commitment from Farm Credit Mid-America for the College of Agriculture's 'Beyond the Classroom Experiences' program (student clubs, farm tours, research, travel, industry engagement).
3. Federal Appropriations and Grants: Congressional appropriations secured by federal legislators. Includes $18.8 million in FY2026 federal appropriations across three capital projects: $9 million for Health Care Simulation Building at A-State Jonesboro; $7.7 million for Health Science Center at ASU-Newport; $2.1 million for equipment at CAMSM. Additional federal grants include $200,000 USDA NIFA grant for STEM/agriculture programs targeting women and minorities.
4. Financial Aid Disbursements: $135M+ in total aid awarded in the 2023-2024 school year. 80%+ of A-State students receive a type of financial aid including grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study. This represents pass-through funding but is a key enabler of tuition revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Arkansas State University is a public research university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and certificate programs across 160+ majors and 10 academic colleges, supplemented by online degree pathways (A-State Online, operating since 2008), research centers (CAMSM, ALLIANCE Lab, Red Wolf SOC), and specialized training programs such as the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Large Animal Ambulatory Service. Courses are delivered on the main Jonesboro campus, three U.S. University Centers, fully online, and at two international campuses in Qatar and Mexico, serving 17,926 students and awarding more than $135M in financial aid annually.

Product overview

Arkansas State University operates as a multi-product academic and research institution rather than a single unified SaaS product. Its core delivery platform is A-State Online, which integrates with third-party learning providers (Coursera, ed2go) and student-success tools (Handshake, Parchment, Penji) to serve online learners. Around this core platform, the university has launched a portfolio of new academic and research products: the College of Veterinary Medicine with its new DVM program and 2026 Large Animal Ambulatory Service; the cybersecurity-focused Red Wolf Security Operations Center (Fall 2026); the Center for Advanced Materials & Steel Manufacturing (CAMSM), an AI-driven research center; the ALLIANCE Lab for dyslexia research; the College of Nursing and Health Professions supported by the new Health Care Simulation Building; and the Dean B. Ellis Library. The Howl AI-powered virtual assistant sits across these offerings as a conversational front door to the university's services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• A-State Online: Online degree and certificate programs division, offering 35+ fully online programs in fields like business, education, technology, and healthcare; offering degrees since 2008.
• Red Wolf SOC (Red Wolf Security Operations Center)
• Center for Advanced Materials and Steel Manufacturing (CAMSM)
• College of Veterinary Medicine
• ALLIANCE Lab

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs
• Graduate Degree Programs
• A-State Online
• College of Veterinary Medicine (DVM Program)
• Large Animal Ambulatory Service On-farm veterinary care service operated by the College of Veterinary Medicine, providing wellness exams, herd health care, and breeding soundness exams for horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs in the Jonesboro area; also serves as clinical training for veterinary students.
• Red Wolf Security Operations Center (Red Wolf SOC) Student-operated cybersecurity program in partnership with Kalmer Solutions; six students per semester work scheduled shifts to monitor cybersecurity threats and protect university networks while gaining hands-on experience in threat monitoring and incident response.
• Center for Advanced Materials & Steel Manufacturing (CAMSM) Steel and materials research and testing center with industry-grade equipment, AI and data analytics capacity, and fabrication/machining capabilities; supports workforce development in steel, materials, and advanced manufacturing in the Arkansas Delta region.
• ALLIANCE Lab Research facility in the Department of Communication Disorders that integrates literacy science with computer science to develop assessment and support tools for early identification and intervention for dyslexia in children; also serves as a graduate training site for speech-language pathology students.
• College of Nursing and Health Professions Academic college delivering nursing and allied health programs including BSN, MSN (FNP, PMHNP, AGACNP), DNP (CRNA), and specialized telehealth training for veterans; supported by a new $9M federally funded Health Care Simulation Building.
• Dean B. Ellis Library Main university library providing 2.2M+ research materials, 43 study rooms (including presentation/testing rooms), 25 specialized librarians and staff, OneSearch discovery system, LibGuides research guides, interlibrary loan, ARCH research hub, and Archives & Special Collections.
• U.S. University Centers (Beebe, West Memphis, Mountain Home) Satellite campuses allowing students to begin A-State bachelor's degrees closer to home: ASU-Beebe (B.S.E. Elementary Education, Middle Childhood Education; B.S. Engineering Technology), ASU Mid-South (A.A.S.N. Nursing LPN-RN), and ASU-Mountain Home.
• International Campus Programs (Qatar, Mexico) International degree programs via A-State Qatar (Doha, partnership with Global Studies Institute) and A-State Campus Querétaro (ASUCQ, Mexico), including engineering, educational leadership, digital design, and engineering management programs.
• Early College / Concurrent Enrollment Programs Concurrent enrollment and UpSkill programs allowing high school students to take real college courses and earn credit before graduation, potentially saving up to three years on a degree.
• Financial Aid and Scholarships Institutional financial aid program distributing $135M+ in 2023-2024 across grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study, with 80%+ of A-State students receiving some form of aid.

Named customers9 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kalmer SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026Three-year agreement between Arkansas State University and Kalmer Solutions of Jonesboro to launch a student-led Security Operations Center called the Red Wolf SOC, set to launch in fall 2025. Six students per semester work scheduled shifts to monitor cybersecurity threats and protect university networks while gaining hands-on experience. Kalmer Solutions is committing ongoing investment including mentorship, training, a full-time SOC coordinator position, and graduate assistant stipends. The program is expected to expand over time and could eventually grow throughout the Arkansas State University System.
• U.S. Senator John BoozmancoreOthers · 4 February 2026U.S. Senator John Boozman secured $18.8 million in Fiscal Year 2026 federal appropriations for three capital projects at Arkansas State University System institutions, including $9 million for the Health Care Simulation Building at A-State Jonesboro to address maternal and infant health workforce shortages, $7.7 million for the Health Science Center at ASU-Newport, and $2.1 million for equipment at the CAMSM Center for Advanced Materials & Steel Manufacturing. All projects require final approval from the ASU System Board of Trustees.
• U.S. Representative Rick CrawfordcoreOthers · 4 February 2026Co-initiated the FY2026 congressional appropriations for Arkansas State University System alongside Senator John Boozman, helping secure $18.8 million in federal funding for three capital projects ($9M Health Care Simulation Building at A-State Jonesboro, $7.7M Health Science Center at ASU-Newport, $2.1M CAMSM equipment).
• Global Studies Institute (Doha, Qatar)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership between Arkansas State University and the Global Studies Institute in Doha, Qatar, operating as A-State Qatar. Courses are offered locally by instructors in Doha along with A-State faculty teaching live, online courses in areas such as educational leadership, digital design, and engineering management, while allowing students to be in physical classrooms.
• NYITCOM (New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYITCOM operates its College of Osteopathic Medicine on the Arkansas State University Jonesboro campus, providing medical education programming as part of A-State's academic ecosystem. A-State also offers a Freshman to Physician Pathway guiding future doctors from their first semester to medical school.
• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on EducationcoreOthersAccreditation partner that issued a Letter of Reasonable Assurance enabling A-State's College of Veterinary Medicine to recruit and admit its first class starting fall 2026. A second accreditation site visit was completed in January 2026 with a final decision expected by June. Construction of the 56,000-square-foot facility and two educational barns on the Jonesboro campus is on track for summer completion ahead of the fall 2026 cohort launch. The first DVM class will graduate in 2030.
• Amazon Career Choice ProgramminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership allowing Amazon employees to use Career Choice benefits toward A-State online degree programs, supporting workforce upskilling and continuing education.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Missouri State University: Regional public university with comparable size (~24,000 students) and Carnegie research classification; competes for out-of-state students from the Mid-South and overlapping online-program markets.
• University of Memphis: Public Carnegie-designated research university across the state line in Memphis, TN, competing for the same Mid-South regional student pool and online learners in the Arkansas Delta/Mid-South corridor.
• Southeast Missouri State University: Regional public university in Cape Girardeau, MO, serving a similar rural/small-city student demographic, with comparable online, agriculture, and education program portfolios.
• Western Kentucky University: Carnegie-classified public research university in Bowling Green, KY, with similar enrollment scale, online program offerings, and federal grant-funded research infrastructure in applied sciences.

Direct peers

• University of Arkansas at Little Rock: Urban public research university within the same state system, competing for graduate students, online learners, and urban workforce-development programs in central Arkansas.
• Southern Arkansas University: Another public Arkansas institution serving a similar regional student base, with overlapping programs in education, agriculture, and business, competing for the same state funding pool.
• Arkansas Tech University: Public Arkansas university focused on career-oriented undergraduate and graduate programs; competes with A-State for in-state students, particularly in applied and professional disciplines.
• University of Arkansas: Arkansas's flagship public research university and the most direct in-state peer; competes for the same in-state undergraduate pool, faculty, research grants, and federal earmarks in Arkansas.
• University of Central Arkansas: Arkansas public university offering similar undergraduate and graduate programs, competing for the same in-state students, faculty talent, and state appropriations within the Arkansas higher-ed ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Southern New Hampshire University: National leader in online degree programs at scale; competes directly with A-State Online for online undergraduates, adult learners, and employer-partnership channels such as Amazon Career Choice.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/69431101263
• Instagraminstagram.com/ArkansasState
• Xx.com/ArkansasState
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arkansas-state-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors6 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arkansas State University