Arkansas Trade Schools - Colleges & Universities

Are you an Arkansas resident who is ready to further your level of education by attending a post secondary institution of learning? Are you unsure of which college or university that you would like to attend so you are doing some research in order to make the most informed decision possible? You have definitely come to the right place! Below, you will find some basic information about the state of Arkansas, along with some detailed facts about the most popular collegiate choices in this state. Keep in mind, the most popular public and private institutions that are discussed below are certainly not your only educational options in this state. In fact, there are many other vocational institutes, community or junior colleges, and distance learning or online programs.

Many of the more popular choices that are discussed below will allow you to dictate whether you pursue your degree in a full time or part time manner. You may even have the option to complete some portions of the educational requirements through an online learning format. Ideally, the university that you choose will provide you the option of tailor fitting your course requirements to fit your needs and goals. Continue doing your research until you find the most suitable educational avenue that will fit your lifestyle and current obligations, while allowing you to pursue your dreams.

 

Arkansas Colleges

 

According to recent online research, over the next several years Arkansas residents can expect employment opportunities that require a post secondary degree to increase by 86,000. This statistic alone verifies the importance of completing the post secondary degree or training program of your choosing. Based on an article from the U.S. News and World Report, Arkansas is home to some of the top colleges and universities in the United States. The University of Central Arkansas is well recognized for its wide range of educational options that can be completed in a cost effective manner. This learning institution boasts about one hundred undergraduate degree programs for prospective students to choose from. In addition, should you choose to further your education beyond an undergraduate level program, this university offers prospective students over thirty master's level degree programs and several doctorate level programs. Current research shows that this public institution is home to approximately 12,000 students.

As an educator, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is quite appealing to me. This educational facility is geared towards maximizing a student's learning opportunities and success rate by providing them with tools such as computer labs, television and radio stations, art galleries, and a variety of other resource centers. Regardless of whether you choose to attend this university as a full time or a part time student, this institution is home to nine different colleges that offer well over one hundred courses of study to choose from. Should you choose to apply to this university you can expect to obtain your education through a multi cultural environment that allows you to maximize your learning potential. Another great collegiate option is the University of Arkansas. If you are particularly interested in research, invention, or development, then this university would be a great choice for you! However, it is important to note that in addition to these main focus areas, this learning institution also offers about two hundred other degree programs for students to choose from. The main campus of this university is well known for their diverse degree programs in areas such as architecture, logistics, drama, and geosciences.

Although Arkansas State University is not recognized for anything out of the ordinary where education is concerned, this post secondary learning institution certainly deserves to make the list of most popular collegiate choices in Arkansas. As a cost effective option for traditional and nontraditional students, this university offers approximately two hundred major degree programs for prospective students to choose from. The final Arkansas collegiate choice that makes my list of popular options among prospective students is Northwest Arkansas Community College. This public learning institution only offers two year associate level degree programs. However, their state of the art facilities will make you a prime candidate for transferring to a four year college or university to obtain a bachelor's level degree.

No matter which educational facility you choose, you can rest assured that the state of Arkansas has their best education foot forward! The many prestigious collegiate choices may be difficult to choose between, but your end result will likely be similar from any of these great institutions.

Arkansas Workforce

Arkansas has a healthy workforce with approximately 29% of the population of the state working which amounts to over 1.5 million workers. The level of education received by the workers however are well below the national average. Only 34% of the population has received a high school diploma and less than 15% have earned a Bachelor’s degree. A big percentage of the population attended trade schools to receive their education so they could get a job quicker after high school. The lack of higher education means companies have fewer candidates to choose from. This is a big advantage for those who are going back to school or for anyone moving into the state that has a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Less than 7% of the population has a graduate degree. Only 14% of the Hispanic population possesses a degree where 30% of whites and 21% of the African American population hold degrees.

In Arkansas some counties have populations with a higher education level than others and that tends to lead to higher salaries. The county with the highest percentage of individuals with a degree is Pulaski county with 39% having obtained their degree followed by Garland, Clark, Faulkner, Saline, Benton and Washington. The lowest counties were Yell, Chicot, Lafayette, Jackson, Calhoun, Lee and Dallas who are all in below 19%.

 

Top Industries and Salaries in Arkansas

Salaries in Arkansas are below the national average but still are at $38,540 per year. The most jobs are in supporting roles in offices followed by sales positions. Over 125,000 sales positions are in the state that most require little to no education to qualify. The third most employed area is in production with an average salary of $32,030. The highest occupations in the state are surgeons including obstetricians and gynecologists which earn between $245,000 to $265,000 per year. In terms of jobs that aren’t medical related marketing managers earn $125,000 per year as do purchasing and architectural engineers.

 

The True Cost of Living in Arkansas

One of the reasons why people choose to go to work in Arkansas after they graduate college is the overall cost of living. The median house costs $162,000 which is under the national average where the average family income is $49,928. Things like insurance and food costs are also lower.

 

Industries with the most employment

Farming and Agriculture
The state has 100’s of farms that employ 1000’s of individuals. Cotton and rise are the top 2 exports in the state that makes up over 15 billion of the state’s economy. Livestock make up over 65% of the agricultural revenue for the state. Cattle makes up around 8% where broilers make up 41%. Most of the job opportunities can be not only on the farms but at the production facilities that process these items.

Trucking and Transportation
Some of the largest distribution centers in the county are in Arkansas and the state has 20 major trucking companies. The state has plenty of CDL truck driving schools where you can get trained so you can receive your CDL license. The state currently employs around 15,000 drivers that hold their Class A license.

Restaurant Industry
As mentioned earlier Arkansas employs a lot of people in the restaurant industry. Many decide to attend college and earn a degree in hospitality management or even culinary arts. If you want to enter the workforce quicker we recommend one of any of the trade schools in Arkansas where you can get trained within a year. Because a small percentage of the state holds a Bachelor’s degree or less you could get trained fast, get a job and then even continue with your education at a college while working.

Cosmetology
Arkansas currently employs around 9,000 cosmetologist with an average salary of $27,060. You can make considerably more if you own or rent out your own shop as well as if you do specialized styles.

Dental Assistant
The top dental assistants in the state earn on average $41,300 per year. The outlook for the career is positive and the number of dental assistants in the state should grow to around 4000 over the next 6 years. The most are employed in the Birmingham and Hoover area followed by Huntsville then mobile.

Pharmacy Technician
The state currently employs over 7300 pharmacy technicians with an average yearly salary of $27,520. Most of the duties will involve working with the pharmacist, maintaining inventory and help fill prescriptions. Most of your duties will be helping out customers including assisting them with insurance companies to see if their medications are covered by their policy.

Medical Insurance Billing and Coding
The median salary for employees in Alabama with a medical billing and coding certificate is $29,380. The industry is expected to increase by 10%. The majority of your role will be to work with insurance companies regarding the billing of procedures.

 

Attending School in Arkansas

Arkansas has over 25 colleges that offer Bachelor’s degrees or higher including over 100 trade schools and community colleges. The largest university is the University of Arkansas that has over 28,000 students followed by Arkansas State and Arkansas Tech University. Tuition costs range from $15,000 to $35,000.

 

Arkansas Career Resources

http://strongernation.luminafoundation.org/report/#arkansas
http://www.littlerock.org/
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ar.htm
http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/04
http://www.arkansasedc.com/