For parents
Parents ask — we answer with numbers and procedures
Sending a child to study half a world away is a major decision. This page gathers what parents outside the US ask most about Arkansas State University: safety, money, health, communication and how to visit.
The topics parents care about most
Campus safety
Three years of Clery data, 24/7 UPD, parent alerts and the truth about the city.
→2026–27 total cost
Calculator by credits, housing and insurance — all figures in US dollars.
→Scholarships
International scholarship $3,000/year, conditions and renewal.
→Getting to Jonesboro
Fly to Memphis, the university shuttle, first-day steps.
→Safety: the parent summary
The campus has a state-certified University Police Department on duty 24/7, more than 1,100 cameras, blue-light emergency boxes and a free night escort service. First-year students must live on campus — in access-controlled halls with staff on duty.
On-campus crime statistics are published annually under the Clery Act: no murders in 2022–2024, robbery 0–1 per year. The city of Jonesboro has crime rates above the US average, concentrated in areas away from campus — we say so plainly, with the precautions students take, on the Safety page.
Communication and emergency alerts
- A-State Alerts: students can register up to three phone numbers so parents receive emergency alerts at the same time (SMS/email); tested monthly
- Jonesboro runs on US Central Time (GMT−5 in summer, GMT−6 in winter) — work out the gap from home and set a fixed weekly call time
- Under US FERPA law the university does not automatically share grades with parents; the student can sign a release so parents may speak with the university
- Our admissions team is your direct contact: parents can call the hotline, email us or message on WhatsApp if they cannot reach their child or need to ask the university something
- Save UPD +1 870-972-2093 and the number of your own country’s nearest consulate (for Vietnam: Consulate General in Houston, +1-713-850-1233)
2026–27 total cost — numbers for planning
| Item | 2026–27 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate tuition & fees (12 credits/semester) | ≈ $15,600 / year | $649/credit (incl. athletic fee) + college fee $27–55/credit |
| Housing + meals (double room + meal plan) | ≈ $12,220 / year | Double room $2,730/semester; meal plan $2,020–2,660/semester |
| Health insurance | ≈ $1,100 – 1,300 / year | $570–650 per semester, mandatory |
| Estimated total (12 credits) | ≈ $29,646 / year | Excludes flights, personal spending, books |
| International scholarship | − $3,000 / year | GPA 3.25, automatic consideration, GPA required for renewal |
One-time fees: application $50, international deposit $350, health screening $280, housing deposit $100. Use the cost calculator for your credit load. All figures are in US dollars.
Source: A-State International Admissions — Cost · A-State Residence Life — Rates · Updated 08/2026
Paying tuition from abroad
A-State accepts international payments through the university’s international payment portal (bank transfer in US dollars or your local currency, international cards), with the exchange rate shown up front and transaction tracking. Parents do not need a US bank account.
Timing: tuition and housing are billed each semester, usually due before the semester starts. The university offers an instalment payment plan for a small fee. Our admissions team walks you through each transfer and confirms receipt with the university’s student accounts office.
Many countries require supporting documents before releasing an outbound transfer for study (admission letter/I-20, tuition invoice) — check with your bank and have the originals ready.
Mandatory health insurance
Every international student must join the university health plan, about $570–650 per semester (≈ $1,100–1,300 per year), billed with tuition. It covers visits to the on-campus Student Health Center, emergency care and hospitalisation under the plan terms. Two major hospitals are under 10 minutes from campus. A policy bought in your home country cannot be used instead.
Housing: what parents need to know
- Year one (age 17+) must be in on-campus housing — safer, with a Resident Assistant on each floor
- A double room at $2,730/semester is the common choice; single $3,450/semester; Pack Place 4-bedroom apartment $3,755/semester from year two
- A meal plan is required in traditional halls ($2,020–2,660/semester); shared kitchens allow home cooking
- Halls open around mid-August; apply early for preferred room and roommate
- Optional renter’s insurance about $25/semester
Visiting your child and touring campus
Parents can enter the US on a B-2 visitor visa. Guided campus tours run Monday–Friday 10:00–11:30 and one Saturday a month; register in advance at tour.astate.edu. Tours are in English; a current student who shares your language may be able to join and interpret if arranged beforehand through the office.
Fly to Memphis (MEM), then rent a car or take Uber 1.5 hours to Jonesboro; hotels near campus cost $90–150 per night. Best times to visit: October (autumn) or April–May (before commencement); avoid the heat of July–August.
Consular support in the US
Keep your own country’s nearest consulate to hand for passports, documents and citizen protection. For families from Vietnam that is the Consulate General of Vietnam in Houston, Texas: +1-713-850-1233. Check directly with the consulate about its jurisdiction and its procedures by mail.
The 8 questions parents ask most
My child’s English is not ready yet. Can they still study?
Yes. A-State issues conditional admission and places the student in the English Learning Academy (ELA) — six levels, 11:1 classes, CEA-accredited. Completing the top level leads straight into the degree with no TOEFL/IELTS retest. One ELA semester costs about $6,522 including tuition, fees and insurance.
How often will I see my child?
Most students go home each summer (May–August); winter break (mid-December to mid-January) is long enough for a trip home too. Holidays that fall mid-semester — Lunar New Year, for instance — rarely leave room to travel. Parents can visit on a B-2 visa.
What if my child gets sick?
The on-campus Student Health Center treats and prescribes at low cost under the university plan; for serious cases two major hospitals are under 10 minutes away. In an emergency, call 911. Our admissions team helps with family communication.
Can my child work part-time?
On campus up to 20 hours per week during term (library, dining, labs…). Off campus only via CPT/OPT. Part-time income covers personal spending, not tuition — families must plan finances for the whole program.
Is the scholarship guaranteed? Can it be lost?
The $3,000/year international scholarship is awarded automatically with a GPA of 3.25 and renews when the required GPA is maintained. If the GPA drops below the threshold, the award can stop for the following year — which is why year one needs focus.
Can I see my child’s grades and progress?
Under FERPA the university shares with parents only when the student signs a release. The practical approach: agree with your child to share the student portal, and ask our admissions team to help when you need to contact the university.
Is transferring tuition difficult?
No. The university’s international payment portal accepts bank transfers from many countries, with the exchange rate shown up front. Your bank will usually ask for the admission letter/I-20 and the tuition invoice. Our admissions team guides you step by step.
What if my child wants to change major or struggles academically?
Changing major within the same college costs almost no time if done early. The university has academic advisors, free tutoring centres and free counselling. Our admissions team stays in touch with students throughout and will inform parents when needed.
Book a direct conversation with our admissions team
Parents can book a private session (in person or online) to ask anything about safety, cost and their child’s pathway.