Arkansas State University

• Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA,
• Year of foundation: 1909,
• Number of students: about 14,000,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of study: mixed.

Arkansas State University (ASU/A-State) is the second largest university in Arkansas, offering more than 170 programs at eight specialized colleges.

Opened in 1909, ASU has gradually developed, acquiring an extensive network of partners at home and abroad, improving campus facilities and expanding the national student community. Today, more than 14,000 future bachelors, masters and doctors of sciences in high-demand specializations are studying at A—State, about 750 of them are foreigners: Canada, France, South Korea, Argentina and other countries. The multinational student community is supported by qualified teachers and university administrative staff — maximum attention is paid to the progress of each student, both academic and personal. Extracurricular improvement of students' professional skills is organized through internships, various master classes and active participation in research activities. A-State is considered one of the leading research institutions in the country, has a high rating of scientific activity, so students have extensive opportunities to gain useful skills and knowledge in solving real-world situations.

During extracurricular activities, students can expect a wide range of directions that fulfil many of the interests of the modern community. From creative teams, sports teams, to themed clubs, and the volunteer community, everyone will find like—minded people on campus.

Valentina Nikitina

Senior Marketing and Recruitment Manager at Kaplan Pathways with a focus on students from Russia and the CIS.

What factors are considered when evaluating U.S. universities, and how reliable are current rankings?

That's an interesting topic. The criteria used to evaluate universities vary by ranking. For nationwide rankings, factors like class size, teacher salaries, and the number of faculty members with advanced degrees in their field are common considerations. If a ranking focuses on student satisfaction, the criteria will differ. However, rankings don't always align with individual student needs and should be considered alongside other factors.

Some A-State programs are taught in an online format, allowing international students to pursue higher education without leaving their home country. The distance format provides students with the same quality of knowledge and skills as the face-to-face format: regular sessions with teachers, communication with classmates, resources for independent and group work.

The university has eight scientific schools, on the basis of which specialized specializations of higher education are taught.

• Agriculture
• Business
• Education, behavioral science,
• Engineering, Computer Science,
• Liberal Arts, Communications,
• Nursing, Healthcare,
• Science, mathematics,
• Veterinary medicine.

A-State also has Higher and University Schools, which teach doctoral and preparatory programs, respectively.

A-State runs several scientific institutes, each of which conducts research in its field. From high-performance computing platforms to plant-based biomanufacturing, university research spans many industries to make the world a better place.

Areas of research at the institutes:

• Biological sciences,
• Limitless thinking: AI,
• Economic development,
• Rural initiatives.

Both highly qualified scientists and students of all specializations and courses participate in scientific projects.

The institution has 14 residences offering accommodation to all students: first-year students, senior students, and those enrolled in NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine affiliate programs. Each residential community provides students with all the necessary services and amenities to make them feel at home during studies in the USA.

• Arkansas Hall is a five-storey building with single suites combined into two-room apartments. Each apartment is equipped with a bathroom, and the building has a shared kitchen, a guest area with board games, laundries,
• The Circle is an apartment for masters and doctors of science, teachers. Single and double apartments with bathrooms, kitchens and living areas in each of them have been prepared for them.
• Collegiate Park is a complex of six apartment buildings in the heart of the campus, including townhouses and apartments with two and four bedrooms. Bathrooms are shared by two residents along with fully equipped kitchens, living areas,
• Greek Village is five two-storey houses for members of Greek organizations. Students are accommodated in single and double rooms, share bathrooms, kitchens,
• Living Learning Community 1-6 — more than ten residential buildings with one and double bedrooms, shared bathrooms for several residents, laundry rooms, fully equipped kitchens,
• Kays Hall is an 11-story building with several wings that houses first-year students. They occupy single and double bedrooms of standard and luxury formats, share bathrooms, kitchens and living rooms for several residents,
• North Park Quads - suites with four bedrooms and two bathrooms, kitchens and living areas, located in five buildings,
• Pack Place — two- and three-storey houses with double and quadruple rooms, equipped with bathrooms, kitchens and a laundry room,
• Red Wolf Den is a residence for senior students. The building offers double, triple and quadruple rooms with all amenities,
• University Hall is a home for first-year girls, offering accommodation in double suites with an en-suite bathroom. A limited number of single bedrooms are available, however, the bathroom will be shared. Kitchens, laundries, self-study classrooms and laundries are located on the floors,
• The Village is housing for families of students, graduate students and those over 23 years old. Accommodation is expected in apartments with several bedrooms: one, two or three. Each apartment is equipped with a bathroom, kitchen and living area.

A-State residences are located both on the campus itself and in relative proximity to it. Thanks to good transport links, it will not be difficult to get to the educational buildings - students use buses, bicycles, taxis.

Choosing a meal plan is a must for students living in most residences. The meal plan is a semester-long financial contribution that can be spent on meals at the dining halls, cafeterias, and bars on campus. In addition to a fixed or unlimited number of meals, there are bonus points, thanks to which you can get a discount or purchase snacks, drinks.

A wide range of areas for extracurricular development allows students not only to maintain interest in a particular field, but also to try their hand at new activities.

The university is proud that its national teams participate in NCAA Division I. The institution's football team often occupies a leading position among participants from other universities, thereby promoting A-State in sports rankings. Thanks to the modern infrastructure, the campus also hosts amateur and more professional training in sports such as:

• Rugby
• Archery,
• Cricket
• Softball
• Frisbee.

If a student would like to maintain an active lifestyle, but not devote much time to sports, he can participate in collective activities: jogging, yoga and dance workshops, as well as visit the fitness center.

The A-State Student Union manages the activities of thematic communities, each of which represents the most popular areas of interest. Whether it's crafts, sustainability, choral singing, or cooking – students will find a community to their liking. The union is also responsible for organizing most of the events throughout the year, which include Christmas and graduation balls, volunteer events, sports performance days, Easter celebrations, and many others. The events relate not only to national and international holidays, but also allow students to get to know each other better, learn about the cultural customs of other nationalities, and promote their ideas.

• Accreditation by the Commission on Higher Education, specialized accreditations for each scientific college within the US university,
• Classification "R2: Doctoral universities — High research activity",
• More than 100 years of educational activity and more than 100,000 graduates,
• The focus is on an individual approach to each student, which is achieved through learning in small groups of 16 students.,
• The university's sports teams participate in NCAA Division I,
• An international student community with representatives from several dozen countries.

A-State is located in Jonesboro, Northeast Arkansas' regional hub for healthcare, entertainment, business, and industry. It is the fifth largest city in the state with a population of over 76,000 people. With interstates and four-lane highways in all directions, Jonesboro provides easy access to other major cities, including:

• Memphis, Tennessee — 1 hour,
• Little Rock — 2 hours,
• St. Louis, Missouri — 4 hours,
• Nashville, Tennessee — 4 hours.

The university's academic area covers an area of 1,376 acres, with 145 facilities for teaching, research, recreation and accommodation. The modern infrastructure includes classrooms, computer labs and seminar rooms, specialized scientific laboratories, rooms for student communities and individual studying. A-State boasts the largest library in the state, which gives students access to thousands of volumes of printed literature and online resources.

The Red Wolf Fitness Center is the main venue for group and individual workouts.:

• Indoor Running Track,
• Gym with free weights area,
• Three full-size basketball courts,
• Several dance studios,
• Climbing wall,
• The football hall.

The campus has a Student Activity Center, which is an 80,000-square-foot indoor pavilion used for a variety of entertainment and sporting events, including a full-size soccer field, netting areas for volleyball and other ball games.

The academic year at A-State covers almost the entire calendar year, including several semesters:

• Fall semester: August-December,
• Spring semester: January-May.

At the end of each semester, a three-week session is held. In the summer, master's and doctoral students are studied. Classes for all pupils are organized on weekdays, rest is provided on weekends, holidays and during seasonal vacations.

Approximate list of additional costs includes:

• Registration fees,
• Accommodation, meal plan and related costs,
• Some extracurricular activities, participation in clubs, use of sports facilities,
• Personal educational materials,
• Additional academic opportunities not provided for in the curriculum,
• Compulsory insurance,
• Personal expenses.

The admission process to A-State consists of several stages:

• Filling out the online registration form, providing the required documents and paying the application fee,
• Passing an interview, possible entrance exams,
• Obtaining an official letter of admission,
• Arrival at campus and start of training.

The admissions staff will answer all questions, help with visa application and accompany each applicant from application to arrival at the training grounds.

To date, the university has graduated more than 100,000 skilled professionals who have built competitive careers in the U.S. and other countries. Notable alumni include:

• Joey L. Carr, American politician, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives,
• Bill Burgee, Ray Brown, Fred Barnett and others are NFL players,
• Mike Beebe - Governor of Arkansas
• Patrick Eddy – NBA player,
• Thomas Hill - Olympic bronze medalist in hurdles,
• Robert S. Hinson - Lieutenant General of the United States Air Force,
• David Neil is an artist for Mercury and MCA Nashville.

Foreign applicants wishing to enter A-State must have a passport, visa or residence permit, and medical insurance. To enroll in higher education programs, you must provide:

• Academic certificates from the previous place of study: certificate of full secondary education with an average score of 2.3 out of 4 / Bachelor's degree / Master's degree,
• Performance reports, exam results,
• English Language proficiency certificate: TOEFL (from 61), IELTS (from 5.5), PTE Academic (from 43) or university-recognized equivalent.

Some courses will require a portfolio, letters of recommendation, individual achievements, and professional experience in a chosen scientific field.

A number of scholarships are available to international students, covering part of the cost of education, housing and other aspects of university life. Most scholarship programs reward students who have either excellent admission records or high scores in the learning process.

• Virgin Horn International Undergraduate Scholarship,
• Freshman Scholarship,
• Scholarship for Transfer Students,
• External Scholarships: Aga Khan Foundation, Embassy Scholarships.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision