The University of Arkansas was opened on June 22, 1872, as Arkansas Industrial University under the Morrill Act to teach eight co-eds on William McIlroy’s donated farm. Three years later, architect John Van Osdel completed Old Main, UArk’s signature two-tower, Second Empire-style edifice. Celebrating its 145th year, the University of Arkansas now holds a $1 billion endowment as the flagship public, space-grant doctoral RU/VH hub. Arkansas occupies 512 acres among the Ozark Mountains in Fayetteville, Forbes’ 11th best city for job growth. The University of Arkansas serves 27,558 Razorbacks across eight schools, including sports management majors, who network with famous alumni like Jerry Jones, Veronica Campbell, and Dan Hampton.
According to the U.S. News & World Report, Arkansas is the 133th best national university, 63rd top public college, and 156th best high school counselor pick. On Niche, UArk stands as America’s 70th best college for student-athletes and 107th top business school. Times Higher Education placed UArk within the globe’s 600 best universities. Money magazine ranked the University of Arkansas the 428th top value with average student debt of $14,250. Plexuss lauded UArk for the 118th best undergrad education and 85th best Southern buck. The CWUR 2017 rankings honored Arkansas for the 240th top faculty and 284th best alumni employment outlook nationwide.
University of Arkansas Accreditation Details
In 2016, the University of Arkansas had its regional accreditation reaffirmed for 10 years by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) under president Donald R. Bobbitt. This agency is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to extend federal Title-IV eligibility to each UArk location from Rogers and Fort Smith to Little Rock Air Force Base. The Sam W. Walton College has carried elite Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation since 1931. Recreation degrees also adhere to the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) standards.
University of Arkansas Application Requirements
Studying at the University of Arkansas means passing an admission process classified as “more selective” with 63 percent acceptance by the U.S. News & World Report. The Bachelor of Science in RESM requires freshmen to hold a diploma with 16 high school academic units. At minimum, first-year applicants need a 3.0 GPA, 20 ACT score, or 1030 SAT score. Transfers from other accredited colleges need 24+ credits completed with a “C” average or better. The Recreation and Sport Management M.Ed. seeks post-grads with a cumulative bachelor’s GPA above 3.0 and average GRE score of 161. The RESM doctorate offers baccalaureate or master’s admission pathways mandating a 3.3 GPA and research interest.
The University of Arkansas has established final undergrad deadlines of December 15th for Spring and August 1st for Fall starts. The HPER Department created a priority master’s deadline of March 1st and priority doctoral deadline of February 1st. Most materials are uploaded online to the UArk Application, but some might be mailed to Silas H. Hunt Hall at 471 Garland Avenue in Fayetteville, AR 72701. Recreation and sport management majors need the following:
• $40 application fee ($60 for post-grads)
• Unofficial transcript copies for course evaluation
• College entrance exam scores, including TOEFL
• Two or three signed letters of recommendation
• Typed, one-page personal statement of interest
• Current résumé of sports-related experiences
• Completed FAFSA form via code 001108
Tuition and Financial Aid
Full-time RESM majors from Arkansas are charged $9,062 for tuition and fees while non-residents taking 30 credits yearly pay $24,308. Living on-campus in Fayetteville adds $6,884 for room and $3,820 for board atop the $1,046 textbook estimate. Total annual cost of B.S. attendance equals $24,916 for Arkansans and $40,162 for out-of-state undergrads. Graduate programs in the College of Education and Health Professions presently bill Arkansas residents $478 and non-residents $1,156 per credit. Medical insurance premiums add $165 monthly.
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) shows that 57 percent of full-time UArk Razorbacks share $86.55 million in yearly financial assistance for $6,868 on average. Sports management students could qualify for Pell Grants, FSEOG Grants, or Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants. Many borrow Perkins, Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized, PLUS, or UA Emergency loans. The Arkansas Academic Challenge can provide up to $5,000 for in-state residents along with the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship. Federal Work-Study jobs give paychecks for at least $8.00/hour. Doctoral students usually cover tuition with graduate assistantships and their $1,111 monthly stipend. Institutional funds like the James H. White Fellowship, Benjamin Franklin Lever Tuition Fellowship, Boyer Fellowship, Bodenhamer Fellowship, Silas Hunt Scholarship, and Freshman Success Scholarship are numerous.
Student Experience
The University of Arkansas is a winning, research-intensive SEC giant budgeting $372 million yearly to deliver 75 bachelor’s, 77 master’s, and 37 doctoral degrees. Undergrad Razorbacks could pursue the 120-credit B.S. in Recreation and Sports Management with an engaging 19:1 student-faculty ratio. Courses can be tailored for nine concentrations, including Fitness Club Management, Correctional Recreation, Youth at Risk, Outdoor Leadership, and Athletic Administration. Located in the HPER Building, the 36-credit M.Ed. in Recreation and Sport Management helps post-grads advance expertise with thesis or internship tracks. The 96-credit Ph.D. in Health, Sport and Exercise Science also confers a Recreation and Sport Management Concentration to prepare researchers or teachers for academia.
Declaring the RESM major requires completing three 45-hour practica plus 400-hour upper-division internships. The University of Arkansas helps students intern with teams like the Arkansas Travelers, Little Rock Rangers, Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Arkansas RiverBlades, Ozark FC, and even Dallas Cowboys. Fayetteville boasts diverse other agencies, such as Ozark Orthopaedics, Northwest Arkansas YMCA, Outdoor Adventure Camp, Elizabeth Richardson Center, and Washington Regional Medical Center. On campus, sports management students access the state-of-the-art Donald W. Reynolds Stadium, Bud Walton Arena, Jones Family Student-Athlete Success Center, and Baum Stadium. Faculty-led study abroad trips span from Italy to Japan, including the “Australian Sport Industry” course in Melbourne.
Getting involved in UArk’s campus life is easy with 350+ registered student organizations. Sport enthusiasts should check out Bass Fishing Club, Camp War Eagle, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Rotaract Club, West Coast Swing, Quidditch Club, and others on HogSync. Students enjoy annual events, such as Make a Difference Day, Bike Fest, Earth Week, Senior Walk, and Scholar Cantorum. The Distinguished Lecture Series has attracted headliners like Apolo Ohno and Magic Johnson. Razorbacks also “Call the Hogs” while cheering on 19 NCAA Division I teams with the Southeastern Conference’s most national titles at 44. The University of Arkansas most recently won the 2013 men’s indoor track & field and 2016 women’s outdoor track & field championships.
Related Resource:
Top 24 Best Sports Management Degree Programs
