Arkansas Baptist College

What Arkansas Baptist College does

Arkansas Baptist College (ABC) is a private, nonprofit historically Black liberal arts college founded in 1884 in Little Rock, Arkansas, and affiliated with the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. It holds the distinction of being the only historically Black Baptist institution of higher education west of the Mississippi River. The college offers more than 20 associate's and bachelor's degree programs across Business Administration, Christian Studies, Elementary Education, Fine Arts, Criminal Justice, Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Interdisciplinary Studies, maintaining a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio. It operates three academic/administrative units: the main residential campus on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, the 100% online McKissic School of Christian Studies, and the ABC Adult Education Center (offering GED preparation and workforce readiness at multiple community sites). Athletics are competed under the NAIA as the Buffaloes, and selected industry credentials are offered through external partners (CDL via WorldLink Trucking Academy; Cosmetic Sciences via Velvatex College of Beauty).

ABC's core platform is built on commodity higher-education technology: the myABC Portal (powered by JICS) for student records and registration, Blackboard LMS for course delivery, Microsoft Outlook 365 for communications, and National Student Clearinghouse for transcript services, with no proprietary technology disclosed and no AI/ML capability evidenced. Tech partnerships are limited to standard service relationships: Inceptia for federal financial-aid verification, ELM Resources for private-loan lender matching, and the Apple HBCU C2 / Tennessee State University Coding & Creativity initiative for CS-equity programming. The Old Main Building (1893), listed on the National Register of Historic Places, anchors institutional brand identity.

Revenue is derived from five streams: tuition and fees ($8,760/year full-time, $365/credit hour part-time, no out-of-state differential), residential room and board ($2,051-$2,369/semester room; $542-$2,044/semester meal plans), institutional and athletic scholarships (which reduce net tuition revenue), adult education (no tuition, likely state-funded), and donations/endowment income administered through the Office of Institutional Advancement. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the college website, online application, campus tours, community outreach, and NAIA athletics. ABC is governed by a Board of Trustees, is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and operates as of FY2025 under President William L. "Bill" Walker, Jr.

Name

Arkansas Baptist College

Legal name

Arkansas Baptist College

Website

https://arkansasbaptist.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1884

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Liberal Arts College)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

General Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAA)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Liberal arts college
• HBCU education
• Adult education
• Christian studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Little Rock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition charges for full-time and part-time students, along with general fees and technology fees. Full-time tuition is $8,760 per year for 12 credit hours.
2. Room and Board: Revenue from on-campus housing (Ripley Hall, Hill Hall, 1600 Residence) and meal plans (19, 10, or 5 meals per week).
3. Institutional Scholarships: The college awards institutional scholarships based on academic achievement, leadership, community involvement, and financial need, which reduces net tuition revenue.
4. Athletic Scholarships: As a NAIA member, the college offers athletic scholarships across competitive sports programs, reducing net tuition revenue.
5. Donations and Endowment Income: Annual Fund gifts support student scholarships, instructional delivery systems, information technology, infrastructure, and facilities. Endowment funds produce scholarship awards from accrued interest.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Arkansas Baptist College is a private, historically Black liberal arts college in Little Rock, Arkansas, offering bachelor's and associate's degree programs across 20+ areas including Business Administration, Christian Studies, Elementary Education, Fine Arts, Criminal Justice, Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Interdisciplinary Studies. The college operates the McKissic School of Christian Studies (100% online), an Adult Education Center providing free GED preparation and workforce readiness classes, NAIA intercollegiate athletics with athletic scholarships, and on-campus residential housing and dining.

Product overview

Arkansas Baptist College is a private historically black liberal arts college offering a comprehensive educational platform with multiple service components. The core student services include the myABC Portal (powered by JICS) for student records and registration, Blackboard LMS for online learning, and an Academic Catalog system. The institution operates specialized academic units including the McKissic School of Christian Studies (offering 100% online degree programs with 5 concentrations), the Adult Education Center (providing GED preparation and workforce readiness), and the META24 Program. Additional services encompass student financial aid administration, career services, student organizations, and Buffalo Radio campus media. The institution serves approximately 20+ degree programs across associate's and bachelor's levels in areas including Business Administration, Christian Studies, Elementary Education, Fine Arts, Criminal Justice, and Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• McKissic School of Christian Studies: A faith-grounded, HBCU-rooted academic initiative committed to equipping the next generation of church leaders, educators, and ministry administrators. Offers degree programs in Christian Education, Church Administration, Worship Arts, Homiletics & Pastoral Leadership, and Christian Counseling. 100% Online with open admission policy.
• Buffalo Radio
• ABC Adult Education Center

Products and services

• Bachelor's and Associate's Degree Programs Academic degree programs offered on-campus for prospective undergraduate and transfer students, leading to a bachelor's or associate's degree in fields including Business Administration, Christian Studies, Elementary Education, Fine Arts, Criminal Justice, Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Interdisciplinary Studies. Tuition is $8,760 per year for full-time (12 credit hours) with no out-of-state surcharge.
• McKissic School of Christian Studies (Online Degrees) Faith-grounded, HLC-accredited academic initiative offering five 100% online degree concentrations (Christian Education, Church Administration, Worship Arts, Homiletics & Pastoral Leadership, and Christian Counseling) with open admission policy, equipping the next generation of church leaders, educators, and ministry administrators.
• Adult Education Center (GED & Workforce Readiness)

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HBCU C2 (Coding & Creativity)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArkansas Baptist College is a hub for Coding and Creativity as part of Apple's Community Education Initiative and Tennessee State University's HBCU C2 initiative. Apple supports the college with equipment and professional development to bring coding and creativity experiences to HBCUs and their communities.
• Higher Learning CommissioncoreOthersArkansas Baptist College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ensuring that academic programs meet rigorous standards of quality and continuous improvement.
• NAIAcoreOthersAs a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), ABC Buffaloes compete in intercollegiate sports while upholding the values of character, integrity, and sportsmanship.
• ACE Internationalization LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerABC is a participant in the ACE Internationalization Laboratory, working to advance comprehensive internationalization across campus through strategic planning and curriculum enhancement.
• InceptiaminorOthersArkansas Baptist College has partnered with Inceptia to provide students with a Verification Gateway to submit required verification documents online.
• ELM ResourcesminorOthersArkansas Baptist College has partnered with ELM Resources and private lenders to help students understand what questions to ask lenders before borrowing for alternative loans.
• Baptist HealthminorOthersMOU partnership with Baptist Health for healthcare-related programs and services.
• National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.coreOthersAffiliated with the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., the founding religious organization that established the college in 1884.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• LeMoyne-Owen College: Small, church-affiliated HBCU in Memphis, Tennessee, with comparable enrollment scale, liberal arts focus, and tuition discount dynamics typical of faith-rooted HBCUs.
• Rust College: Small, United Methodist-affiliated HBCU in Holly Springs, Mississippi, with comparable enrollment scale, faith-based mission, and tuition-revenue operating model.
• Paine College: Small, Methodist-affiliated HBCU in Augusta, Georgia, with comparable undergraduate program mix, faith-based mission, and tuition discount dependence.
• Lane College: Small, church-affiliated (CME) HBCU in Jackson, Tennessee, offering bachelor's degrees with a comparable tuition structure and faith-based mission similar to ABC's Baptist identity.
• Jarvis Christian University: Small, Baptist-affiliated HBCU in Hawkins, Texas, sharing faith-based heritage, small campus scale, and a comparable liberal arts program portfolio.
• Philander Smith University: Private HBCU located in Little Rock, Arkansas, offering undergraduate liberal arts and professional programs. Direct geographic and mission peer competing for the same regional student pool.
• Stillman College: Small, Presbyterian-affiliated HBCU in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with comparable liberal arts mission, tuition scale, and donor-funded operating model.
• Talladega College: Private HBCU in Alabama with similar small enrollment scale, liberal arts curriculum, and reliance on tuition discounting and donor funding — directly comparable operational profile.
• Concordia College Alabama: Very small, faith-affiliated HBCU in Selma, Alabama, offering a comparable small-scale liberal arts curriculum with similar tuition-discount economics.

Broad incumbents

• Dillard University: Larger, more established private HBCU in New Orleans with broader program depth, larger endowment, and stronger national brand — represents a benchmark incumbent in the same HBCU liberal arts category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/arkbaptist
• Facebookfacebook.com/207811092569648

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Arkansas Baptist College