About A-State
Arkansas State University — more than a century of public education in Jonesboro
Founded in 1909, A-State is a public Carnegie R2 research university with record enrolment in 2025–26. This page collects verified numbers and points to what parents ask about most: rankings, safety, the city and our admissions team.
Fast facts
1909
Founded
17,926
Students — record, Fall 2025
150+
Degree programs
9
Colleges
110,000+
Alumni worldwide
1,200+
International students from 70+ countries
R2
Carnegie research classification
1928
Continuously HLC-accredited since
Source: astate.edu — About A-State · A-State News — Fall 2025 enrollment · Carnegie Classification · Updated 08/2026
What kind of university is A-State?
Arkansas State University began in 1909 as a state agricultural school, became a full university in 1967 and is now the flagship of the Arkansas State University System. The main campus sits in Jonesboro, the fifth-largest city in Arkansas, about an hour’s drive from Memphis.
For families deciding from outside the US, three things stand out. First, A-State is public — state support keeps tuition down, so the 2026–27 total cost is about $29,600 per year including housing, meals and insurance, well below many other US public universities. Second, the Carnegie R2 classification (reaffirmed February 2025) means substantial doctoral research activity — undergraduates get into labs and research early. Third, 17,926 students is large enough for a full range of majors, residence halls and nearby hospitals, yet still a safe, focused college-town environment.
The mascot is the Red Wolves; scarlet and black are everywhere on campus. A-State competes in the Sun Belt Conference (NCAA Division I), so weekends bring football and basketball — the slice of American college life international students mention most.
What to know before you decide
Rankings & accreditation
US News 2026, Carnegie R2, HLC, AACSB, ABET, ACEN, CAEP, CEA — sourced numbers, no spin.
→Campus safety
Three years of Clery data, 24/7 campus police, 1,100+ cameras, parent alerts — and the truth about the city of Jonesboro.
→Jonesboro & the weather
Population 80,650, cost of living below the US average, two hospitals, four seasons with a month-by-month temperature table and packing list.
→Our admissions team
A-State’s authorised international admissions office, operated by VNIS: free services, how to book and contact details.
→Video
Arkansas State University in two minutes
Official footage from the Arkansas State University Vimeo channel — it loads only when you press play.
Vimeo A-State ↗Frequently asked questions
Is A-State a public university?
Yes. Arkansas State University is a public university in the Arkansas State University System, continuously accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1928.
What does Carnegie R2 mean?
The Carnegie Classification groups research universities into R1 (very high) and R2 (high) research activity. R2 means the university awards doctorates and has significant research spending — A-State was reaffirmed as R2 in February 2025 with R&D expenditure above $10 million in FY2024, one of three institutions in Arkansas with this status.
How does A-State differ from the University of Arkansas?
Both are Arkansas public universities but in different systems. The University of Arkansas (Fayetteville) is a larger R1 in the north-west; A-State is in Jonesboro in the north-east near Memphis, smaller and usually lower in cost. Compare by specific major and total cost.
What share of students are international?
More than 1,200 international students from 70+ countries out of 17,926 — roughly 7%. Diverse enough for a Multicultural Center and international organisations, while most classmates are American.
How is an A-State degree recognised back home?
A-State is regionally accredited (HLC), the type of accreditation recognised by the US Department of Education, and the credential most ministries and credential-evaluation bodies look for in a US degree. For applicants from Vietnam specifically, degrees from regionally accredited US universities are normally recognised under current Ministry of Education and Training regulations.
Want to understand A-State better before deciding?
Our authorised admissions office offers free 1-on-1 advising — every question from majors to safety and cost.