Why A-State
Six reasons — each one with a number you can check
Choosing a US university is a big family decision. Instead of slogans, this page gives you figures verified against astate.edu so you can compare A-State with your other options yourself.
18,775
Students (record, Fall 2026)
170+
Degree programs
70+
Countries represented
R2
Carnegie research university
Source: astate.edu — About A-State · astate.edu — Academics · Updated Aug 22, 2026
A-State
Six reasons students choose A-State
A genuine public research university
A-State is a Carnegie R2 research university with 9 colleges and more than 160 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. At 18,775 students (Fall 2026 — a record enrollment) it is big enough for a full range of majors and facilities, and small enough that professors know your name.
Internationally recognized program accreditation
Business is AACSB-accredited (fewer than 6% of business schools worldwide), Engineering is ABET-accredited, Nursing is ACEN-accredited with a 93.4% NCLEX pass rate for BSN graduates in 2025, and Education is CAEP-accredited. The new College of Veterinary Medicine opened in August 2026. Your degree is recognized wherever you work or study next.
Below the US average — and transparent
Total cost for an international undergraduate in 2026–27 (12 credits per term) is estimated from about $29,646 a year including tuition, fees, housing, meals and insurance. The $3,000-per-year international scholarship is automatic at a 3.25 GPA. Every figure is published on astate.edu.
A real international community
More than 1,200 international students from over 70 countries study at A-State, with a dedicated international office, a separate orientation week, shuttles to Asian and international grocery stores, and student communities ready to meet you at Memphis airport.
A safe campus in a mid-sized city
Jonesboro is a college town of about 80,000 in northeast Arkansas. The university police operate 24/7, with more than 1,100 cameras, emergency call boxes, free night escorts and the A-State Alerts system that parents can register for.
An official admissions office on your side
You are not dealing alone with a university thousands of miles away. A-State’s authorized international admissions office gives you free advising, submits your file straight to the university, runs visa interview practice, and stays reachable by phone, WhatsApp or email for the whole time you study.
Source: astate.edu — About A-State · astate.edu — Tuition & Fees (International) · astate.edu — International Scholarships · Updated Aug 22, 2026
Accreditation
Accreditation and recognition
HLC
Institution-wide regional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission since 1928.
AACSB
Neil Griffin College of Business — the leading global business accreditation.
ABET
Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering programs.
ACEN · 93.4% NCLEX
Nursing: ACEN-accredited, with 2025 NCLEX pass rates of 93.4% (BSN) and 82.5% (AASN).
CAEP
Teacher education and education programs.
CEA
English Language Academy — accredited through December 2027.
Source: astate.edu — Academics · astate.edu — About A-State · Updated Aug 22, 2026
International students
What A-State publishes for international applicants
This section comes straight from the university’s official international admissions page — the figures and the support commitments A-State states for students applying from abroad.
1,200+
International students, from more than 70 countries
170+
Undergraduate and graduate programs across 8 colleges (as published on the international admissions page)
12+
International student organizations
−12.8%
Cost of living against the US average
The reasons the university itself gives
- More than 1,200 students from over 70 countries
- Affordable tuition and housing options
- More than 12 international student organizations
- A wide network of community partners to help you settle in
- Pre-arrival support and immigration guidance from day one
- A supportive, safe, small-campus feel, with faculty and research resources
- A cost of living 12.8% lower than the US average
- An international admissions team that stays with you from application and visa guidance through to academic advising and course registration
A note on the college count: astate.edu itself uses two different figures. Its international admissions page says "over 160 programs across eight academic colleges" — a figure that predates the College of Veterinary Medicine opening in August 2026. Its Academics page says "170+ programs and 11 colleges", where the 11 includes University College, the Graduate School and the Honors College. We say 9 colleges because that is the number you actually choose a degree from, and 170+ programs because it is the university’s most recent published figure.
Source: astate.edu — International Student Admission · Updated Aug 29, 2026
Entry requirements
English proficiency: what A-State accepts
International students must demonstrate English language proficiency. The university accepts a range of test scores and program completions, for undergraduate and graduate admission alike. The table below lists what is published on the international admissions page.
| Evidence accepted | What A-State publishes |
|---|---|
| SAT | 550 (total on the Evidence-Based Reading/Writing score) |
| ACT | 21 (total, and on both the English and Reading sections) |
| IB (International Baccalaureate) | 5, 6 or 7 on English: Literature or Language & Literature |
| PTE (Pearson Test of English Academic) | Accepted — see the university’s official table for the score required |
| High school marks (India, Nepal, Pakistan) | 60% or 65% in English at X and XII in the certificate, depending on the level you apply for |
| High school marks (Kenya) | 75% in English in Grade 10 and Grade 12 |
| Completion of A-State’s ESL program | Completion certificate for all levels |
| Completion of a CEA-accredited language program | Completion certificate for all levels |
| Completion of the HOFT Institute ESL program | Completion certificate for the program |
| High school or university graduate from the USA, UK, Canada (except Quebec), Australia or New Zealand | Two years completed at a high school or university there, and graduated (exceptions to the graduation requirement apply if you take A-State’s English placement exam) |
A-State’s institutional code for electronic test scores is 6011. Test scores cannot be older than 2 years. The university currently accepts the TOEFL internet-based at-home test. The official table lists separate requirements for undergraduate and graduate applicants — check the row that matches the level you are applying for. Citizens of a number of countries where English is the native language do not have to submit English proficiency scores; the full list is on the international admissions page.
Not there yet on English? A-State runs an accredited ESL program you can take before starting your degree — and completing all its levels is itself one of the accepted ways to demonstrate proficiency listed above.
See the ESL programSource: astate.edu — International Student Admission · Updated Aug 29, 2026
Compare
Compare A-State with your other options
When you weigh up another university, ask these questions: Is it a research university (R1/R2)? Does your program hold specialist accreditation (AACSB, ABET, ACEN, CAEP)? What is the first-year total including housing, meals and insurance? How many international students are there, and is there an admissions office that supports you before and after you arrive? For A-State, the answers to all four are on this page — with sources.
Video
Why international students choose A-State
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 “top” university?
A-State is a Carnegie R2 public research university and is classified among national universities by US News. What matters more for employment is program accreditation: AACSB for business, ABET for engineering, ACEN for nursing — these are the standards employers look for. See the Rankings page for details.
What is there in Jonesboro besides the university?
Jonesboro is Arkansas’s fifth-largest city with about 80,000 people, two hospitals, shopping centers and an Asian grocery store. Memphis is an hour away for the international airport and weekend entertainment. The cost of living is below the US average.
Will I find students from my own country at A-State?
A-State hosts more than 1,200 international students from over 70 countries, with active national and regional student groups on campus. Our admissions team connects you with current students so you can ask about their experience before you go.
Will an A-State degree be recognized in my country?
A-State is regionally accredited by the HLC — the highest level of accreditation in the US system, and the credential national authorities and employers look for when they assess a US degree. Recognition procedures vary from country to country; the office can guide you through the process where a formal step is required.
Does the new College of Veterinary Medicine admit international students?
The College of Veterinary Medicine welcomed its first class in August 2026. International eligibility and tuition for this program have not been fully published — contact the office to confirm.
How can I demonstrate English proficiency?
The university’s international admissions page lists several routes: SAT 550 on Evidence-Based Reading/Writing, ACT 21 (total and on both the English and Reading sections), IB 5–7 in English, PTE Academic, English marks on high school certificates for India, Nepal, Pakistan and Kenya, and completion of A-State’s ESL program, a CEA-accredited language program or the HOFT Institute ESL program. The full table is in the English proficiency section on this page.
Can I use an English test I took a while ago?
The university states that test scores cannot be older than 2 years. A-State’s institutional code for receiving electronic test scores is 6011.
Do I have to send official documents with my application?
The university states that official documents are not required for admission purposes. If you are admitted, however, you must submit official copies of all documents on arrival before you can register for classes. Undergraduate international transfer applicants are the exception: your official transcripts must reach the university before an admission decision can be issued.
Ready to study in the USA at A-State?
Book a free 1-on-1 session with our admissions team — pathway, scholarships, documents and visa in one meeting.