| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public university with a two-year technical branch campus, ATU-Ozark; classes on campus and online |
| Locations | Main campus in Russellville; ATU-Ozark Campus in Ozark; Cardiac Sonography in Fort Smith; ATU-Ozark adult evening classes at the Arkansas Tech Career Center, Russellville (from fall 2026). All in Arkansas |
| Credentials | Certificates of Proficiency, Technical Certificates, associate degrees (AAS, AS), bachelor’s and graduate degrees |
| Typical length | Certificates of Proficiency to associate degrees; practical nursing takes about 15 months and the PTA degree 46 weeks of instruction |
| Enrollment | 9,516 students in fall 2026, including a record 2,669 at ATU-Ozark |
| Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission since 1930; ATU-Ozark is an HLC branch campus. Program accreditors include ACEN, CAAHEP, ACOTE, CAPTE, CAHIIM, HVAC Excellence and the ASE Education Foundation |
| Federal aid | Yes; federal school code 001089 |
| 2026-27 tuition | ATU-Ozark $144.29 per credit hour; main campus $264.99 in-state, $529.98 out-of-state |
| Founded | 1909 as the Second District Agricultural School; ATU-Ozark began in 1965 and merged with ATU in 2003 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
A university with a two-year technical campus
Arkansas Tech University is a public university based in Russellville. Most of the career training this site covers happens at ATU-Ozark, its branch campus in Ozark, which began in 1965 as Arkansas Valley Vocational Technical School, merged with ATU in 2003 and took its current name in 2007. ATU-Ozark awards Certificates of Proficiency, Technical Certificates and associate degrees in nursing and allied health, the skilled trades, industrial automation, business technology and law enforcement, at $144.29 per credit hour in 2026-27 against $264.99 at the main campus. The main campus teaches bachelor’s and graduate degrees, including a BSN, plus a handful of career-focused associate degrees and certificates. ATU-Ozark enrolled a record 2,669 students in fall 2026, and from that term it also runs adult evening trade classes in Russellville.
Programs at ATU-Ozark
ATU-Ozark awards three levels of credential: Certificates of Proficiency (CP), Technical Certificates (TC) and associate degrees (AAS). The table lists current programs from the catalog and program pages (October 2026); a dash means the source gave no figure.
| Program | Credential | Length, start, delivery | Accreditation | Prepares for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing | TC (48 credit hours) or AAS | About 15 months; fall and spring starts | Arkansas State Board of Nursing approval | NCLEX-PN |
| Registered Nursing (LPN-to-RN, Paramedic-to-RN) | AAS (67 or 73 credit hours) | Fall start; about half the theory online | ACEN (2025–2033) | NCLEX-RN |
| Paramedic/EMS | TC or AAS | Apply 1 June–1 October | CAAHEP (2023–2028) | NREMT paramedic exam |
| Basic EMT | CP | – | – | NREMT EMT exam |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | AAS | 46 weeks of instruction; in person | CAPTE (2025–2035) | NPTE |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | AAS (71 credit hours) | Fall start; in person | ACOTE | NBCOT exam |
| Cardiac Sonography (Fort Smith) | AAS | – | CAAHEP (2021–2028) | CCI exam |
| Health Information Technology | TC or AAS | Virtual labs and an internship | CAHIIM (through 2030) | – |
| Medical Billing; Medical Coding | CPs | – | – | – |
| Pharmacy Technician | CP | On campus or online | – | PTCB exam |
| Phlebotomy; Nursing Assistant | CPs | – | – | – |
| Human Services | AAS | – | CSHSE (2022–2027) | – |
| Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (Facilities Maintenance/Management options) | CP, TC or AAS | Evening classes in Russellville from fall 2026 | HVAC Excellence (2024–2030) | – |
| Automotive Service Technology | CP, TC or AAS | Evening classes in Russellville from fall 2026 | ASE Education Foundation (2022–2027) | – |
| Collision Repair Technology | TC or AAS | – | ASE Education Foundation (2025–2030) | – |
| Welding Technology | CP, TC or AAS | Evening classes in Russellville from fall 2026 | – | – |
| Automation Technology | AAS | – | – | – |
| Industrial Control Systems; Industrial Electronic Technology; Controls Fundamentals; Industrial Maintenance (new 2026) | CPs and TCs | – | – | – |
| Cosmetology; Cosmetic Science | TC; AAS | Fall and spring starts | – | Arkansas cosmetology licence |
| Computer Information Technology | CP, TC or AAS | – | – | – |
| Fundamentals of Cybersecurity | CP (new 2026-27) | – | – | – |
| Business Technology (incl. HRM option); Banking Services; Office Support Specialist | CP, TC or AAS | On campus or online | – | – |
| Logistics Management | AAS or CP | Online | – | – |
| Law Enforcement; Jail Standards; Dispatcher Telecommunications | CP, TC or AAS | Law Enforcement and Dispatcher also online | – | – |
The catalog also lists machining and construction technology certificates at the Arkansas Tech Career Center, which mainly serves high-school students; ask whether adults can enroll. ATU-Ozark sells short micro-credentials too, such as Fundamentals of Supervision ($699) and a Community Health–Qualified Behavioral Health Provider credential, with Industrial Maintenance announced as coming. A Medical Assisting AAS page is still online, but the program does not appear in the catalog’s Programs A–Z list or the ATU-Ozark degrees index.
Career programs at the Russellville main campus
The main campus is where Arkansas Tech teaches its bachelor’s and graduate degrees. Those closest to this site’s focus are:
- Nursing: the ACEN-accredited BSN (2025–2033), with a pre-licensure route and an LPN-to-BSN route, and an online RN-to-BSN.
- Associate degrees: Cybersecurity (AS), Information Technology (AAS), Manufacturing (AS, in the Mechanical Engineering department, for work or transfer to the mechanical engineering bachelor’s), Nuclear Technology (AS), Criminal Justice (AS), Early Childhood Education (AS) and Business Administration (AS).
- Certificates of Proficiency: Computer Networking, Computer Programming, Graphic Design, Project Management, Emergency Management, Small Unmanned Aerial Systems and Chemistry Technician, plus Basic EMT. Several, including Project Management, Workplace Supervision, Business Administration and Cyber Resilience, can be taken online.
Bachelor’s degrees range from AACSB-accredited business and ABET-accredited engineering and computer science to education, health information management and emergency management. They are outside this site’s focus.
What the main programs cover
Practical nursing
ATU-Ozark’s practical nursing program runs about 15 months over three semesters and prepares graduates for the NCLEX-PN. Students choose a 48-credit-hour Technical Certificate or an Allied Health AAS with a practical nursing option. Admission is selective and timed: a TEAS score of 60% or higher and a 2.5 GPA, with applications due by 1 March for the fall cohort or by 1 October for the spring cohort. The Arkansas State Board of Nursing gives the program full approval, and graduates who want to become registered nurses can later apply to the campus’s LPN-to-RN degree.
RN associate degree for LPNs and paramedics
The RN associate degree at ATU-Ozark is only for people who are already licensed practical nurses or paramedics; there is no direct entry for beginners, who would need the main campus’s BSN instead. The LPN track is 67 credit hours and the paramedic track 73. About half of the nursing theory is online and half in the classroom in the Health Sciences and Wellness Building, and students have two years to finish. Cohorts begin in the fall, with applications open from 1 October to 1 March. ACEN accredits the program through 2033.
Paramedic
The paramedic program combines lecture and lab work in ATU-Ozark’s Health Sciences and Wellness Building with clinical rotations. Applicants must hold an Arkansas EMT licence or have finished an EMT course within the past year, and apply between 1 June and 1 October. Students can stop at the Technical Certificate or complete the AAS. A 2018 partnership with Fort Smith EMS set up a classroom in Fort Smith where Ozark’s paramedic classes were streamed; ask whether that option still runs. Licensed paramedics can later apply to the Paramedic-to-RN track.
Physical and occupational therapy assistant
Both therapy-assistant degrees are taught in person, take applications from 1 October to 1 March and include clinical placements. The Physical Therapist Assistant AAS fits its program into 46 weeks of instruction (51 weeks including breaks) and leads to the NPTE. The Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS is 71 credit hours, 28 in general education and 43 technical; it starts in the fall, requires a TEAS score of at least 63% and leads to the NBCOT exam. ATU-Ozark’s OTA page says the program is located in Russellville, while the catalog lists both Russellville and Ozark.
Air conditioning and refrigeration
ATU-Ozark’s AC&R program builds from a Certificate of Proficiency to a Technical Certificate and an AAS, with a Facilities Maintenance option at certificate level and a Facilities Management option in the degree; a Construction Technology certificate belongs to the same program family. The program page names internships with employers such as Trane and Walmart Refrigeration. From fall 2026, AC&R and facilities maintenance classes also meet in the evening at the Arkansas Tech Career Center in Russellville. A 2025 HIRED grant of $2.75 million is funding a new HVAC and welding facility.
Automation and industrial controls
Automation Technology is ATU-Ozark’s associate degree in industrial automation and programmable logic controllers (PLCs), taught in the Industrial Control Systems building, which was renovated for $1.15 million in 2023. Students who want a shorter credential can take certificates in Industrial Control Systems, Controls Fundamentals or Industrial Electronic Technology, and a new Industrial Maintenance Certificate of Proficiency was announced in June 2026. The program pages we read do not list course names or credit hours, so ask for the current degree plan before you enroll.
Cost and paying for it
Arkansas Tech has two tuition rates for 2026-27:
- ATU-Ozark: $144.29 per credit hour, up $4.20 from $140.09 in 2025-26. The 2026-27 Ozark fee table was not published in the sources we checked. In 2025-26 the catalog listed mandatory fees of $56 per credit hour plus program fees per credit hour of $32.50 for allied health, $18.50 for general technology courses, $50 for welding and $25 for machining, and $10 for distance learning.
- Main campus: $264.99 per credit hour in-state and $529.98 out-of-state. ATU puts 15 credit hours of tuition and mandatory fees at $5,244.30 a semester, 2.56% more than in 2025-26. Graduate tuition is $333.66 per credit hour.
For a 30-credit year of in-state tuition and mandatory fees, the Arkansas Division of Higher Education’s 2026-27 summary gives $6,062 at ATU-Ozark and $10,489 at the main campus, or $18,438 for out-of-state students at the main campus.
Students from Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas with a high-school GPA of at least 2.0 automatically pay the in-state rate in any undergraduate program, in person or online. Students from other states can qualify with a 2.25 college GPA and other conditions.
Arkansas Tech takes federal aid (school code 001089). ATU-Ozark says students can complete a Technical Certificate with 100% of tuition and fees covered by the state’s Arkansas Future Grant, for eligible students and programs. ATU’s 2025 enrollment release said 83% of Russellville freshmen earned academic scholarships. Arkansas Workforce Challenge funding is available for the behavioral-health micro-credential.
Admissions and schedule
Many ATU-Ozark health programs admit fixed cohorts after an application window:
- Registered nursing, occupational therapy assistant, physical therapist assistant and fall-start practical nursing: 1 October to 1 March.
- Spring-start practical nursing: by 1 October.
- Paramedic: 1 June to 1 October (Arkansas EMT licence or a recent EMT course required).
- Cosmetology: by 1 June for fall, by 1 December for spring.
- TEAS minimums: 63% for OTA and 60% for practical nursing; paramedic applicants take no TEAS.
From fall 2026, ATU-Ozark runs adult evening classes at the Arkansas Tech Career Center in Russellville: automotive on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5 to 8 pm; welding on Tuesdays, 5 to 8:20 pm; and AC&R carpentry on Tuesdays, 5:30 to 7:20 pm. Technical Math meets in Morton Hall on the main campus. About half of the RN degree’s theory is online, and ATU says its online programs can serve students from all SARA member states.
Accreditation and results
Arkansas Tech has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1930. HLC reaffirmed its accreditation in 2020-21 with monitoring, accepted an interim report on assessment in October 2022 and, in an Assurance Review dated 18 August 2025, continued its accreditation; the next reaffirmation is due in 2030-31. HLC lists no probation, notice or show-cause order. ATU-Ozark is an HLC branch campus, and the Fort Smith Cardiac Sonography site and the career center are HLC additional locations.
Program accreditors are listed in the programs table. At the main campus, ACEN accredits the BSN and MSN, CAHIIM the Health Information Management BS, and ABET, AACSB and CAEP the engineering and computer science, business and education programs. NASAD’s term for art and design was printed as 2018–2026; we could not confirm renewal.
First-time NCLEX results from the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (release of 11 August 2026; US-educated candidates; the board does not say whether years are calendar or fiscal):
| Exam and program | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Arkansas average, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN, BSN (main campus) | 53/55 (96.3%) | 65/65 (100%) | 55/55 (100%) | 66/71 (92.9%) | 88.3% (BSN) |
| NCLEX-RN, associate degree (ATU-Ozark) | 23/24 (95.8%) | 22/23 (95.6%) | 31/31 (100%) | 23/27 (85.1%) | 84.4% (ADN) |
| NCLEX-PN, practical nursing (ATU-Ozark) | 37/37 (100%) | 36/36 (100%) | 40/40 (100%) | 41/44 (93.1%) | 93.1% (PN) |
Other results published by the programs:
| Program | Result | Year and definition |
|---|---|---|
| Paramedic | NREMT pass rate 88%; employment of licensed graduates 94% | 2025 (75% NREMT in 2024); the program does not say whether the rate is first-attempt |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | NPTE first-time pass 62.5% (10 of 16); ultimate pass 78.1%; graduation 96.87%; employment 100% | First-time rate 2024-25; others two-year averages |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | Graduation 94% (50 of 53) | 2023–2025 |
| Cardiac Sonography | 100% CCI board-exam pass | 2026 class; cohort size not given |
| Health Information Technology | 100% graduation and 100% employment | 2024-25 |
We found no published placement rates for ATU-Ozark’s HVAC, automotive or welding programs. For the university as a whole, Niche’s rendering of federal data shows a 49% graduation rate and median earnings of $45,974 five years out (checked October 2026).
Before you enroll
- ATU-Ozark’s RN associate degree admits only LPNs and paramedics. If you have neither licence, the route to RN is the 15-month practical nursing program first, or the BSN at the main campus.
- The PTA program’s first-time NPTE pass rate was 62.5% (10 of 16) in 2024-25, and its two-year average ultimate pass rate was 78.1%. Ask for the latest cohort’s result.
- The Arkansas Tech Career Center in Russellville is mainly a high-school center. Its adult classes are ATU-Ozark evening sections in a few programs; machining and construction technology certificates are listed there, but we could not confirm adults can take them.
- A Medical Assisting AAS page is still on ATU-Ozark’s site, but the program is missing from the catalog’s Programs A–Z list, the ATU-Ozark degrees index and ATU’s programmatic accreditation table, so we do not list it. Ask whether it is enrolling.
- ATU-Ozark’s out-of-state tuition for 2026-27 was not in the sources we checked, and we could not check ATU’s state-by-state rules for online licensure programs such as the RN-to-BSN and Pharmacy Technician. Students outside Arkansas and its six bordering states should confirm the tuition, and any student outside Arkansas should confirm the licensure rules.
Housing and career help
At the main campus, students can live in 10 residence halls (double rooms $2,190 to $2,930 a semester in 2026-27) or the University Commons apartments ($3,340 to $4,035), with meal plans from $400 to $2,452. Career preparation is built into programs rather than offered as a placement guarantee: clinical rotations in nursing, paramedic, OTA and PTA, a professional practice internship in Health Information Technology, and AC&R internships with employers such as Trane and Walmart Refrigeration.
What students say
On Niche, Arkansas Tech University has an average of 3.84 out of 5 from 1,196 reviews and an overall grade of B (checked 7 October 2026). Reviewers most often praise approachable faculty who know students by name, small classes, affordable tuition and scholarships, and a welcoming campus with many student organizations. Complaints centre on dorm conditions, including pests, limited dining options, poor communication between student-services offices and limited diversity, and some say study spaces and technology need upgrading. These reviews cover the university as a whole, and many concern dorms and dining; Niche’s separate ATU-Ozark page had only two reviews, so they say little about the technical programs. We could not tell whether the school invited reviews.
Sources
Checked 7 October 2026: HLC accreditation status · ATU catalog, Programs A–Z · ATU-Ozark degrees · 2026-27 tuition and fees · Bordering-state tuition · Arkansas State Board of Nursing NCLEX-PN results (Aug 2026) · ATU-Ozark evening classes in Russellville · Niche reviews
Programs & Courses
ATU-Ozark: Nursing and Allied Health
- Practical Nursing (Technical Certificate or AAS)
- Registered Nursing AAS (LPN-to-RN or Paramedic-to-RN)
- Paramedic/Emergency Medical Services (Technical Certificate or AAS)
- Basic EMT (Certificate of Proficiency)
- Physical Therapist Assistant (AAS)
- Occupational Therapy Assistant (AAS)
- Cardiac Sonography (AAS, taught in Fort Smith)
- Health Information Technology (Technical Certificate or AAS)
- Medical Billing (Certificate of Proficiency)
- Medical Coding (Certificate of Proficiency)
- Pharmacy Technician (Certificate of Proficiency, also online)
- Phlebotomy (Certificate of Proficiency)
- Nursing Assistant (Certificate of Proficiency)
- Human Services (AAS)
ATU-Ozark: Skilled Trades and Industrial
- Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (CP, TC or AAS; Facilities Maintenance and Facilities Management options)
- Automotive Service Technology (CP, TC or AAS)
- Collision Repair Technology (TC or AAS)
- Welding Technology (CP, TC or AAS)
- Automation Technology (AAS)
- Industrial Control Systems (CP or TC)
- Industrial Electronic Technology (TC)
- Controls Fundamentals (CP)
- Industrial Maintenance (CP, new 2026)
- Cosmetology (Technical Certificate)
- Cosmetic Science (AAS)
ATU-Ozark: Business, Technology and Public Safety
- Computer Information Technology (CP, TC or AAS)
- Fundamentals of Cybersecurity (CP, new 2026-27)
- Business Technology, including a Human Resources Management option (CP, TC or AAS; also online)
- Banking Services (CP, TC or AAS; also online)
- Office Support Specialist (CP, also online)
- Logistics Management (AAS or CP, online)
- Fundamentals of Project Management (CP, also online)
- Fundamentals of Small Business Management (CP, also online)
- Law Enforcement (CP, TC or AAS; also online)
- Jail Standards (CP)
- Dispatcher Telecommunications (CP, also online)
Arkansas Tech Career Center, Russellville (ask about adult enrollment)
- Machining Concepts and Operations (CP)
- Machining Operations Milling and Turning (CP)
- Construction Technology (CP)
Russellville: Nursing
- BSN (pre-licensure)
- LPN to BSN
- RN to BSN (online)
Russellville: Associate Degrees and Certificates
- Cybersecurity (AS)
- Cyber Resilience (CP, also online)
- Information Technology (AAS)
- Computer Networking (CP)
- Computer Programming (CP)
- Graphic Design (CP)
- Manufacturing (AS)
- Nuclear Technology (AS)
- Business Administration (AS or CP, also online)
- Project Management (CP, also online)
- Workplace Supervision (CP, also online)
- Criminal Justice (AS)
- Early Childhood Education (AS or CP, also online)
- Emergency Management (CP, also online)
- Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (CP)
- Entrepreneurship (Advanced Certificate)
Campus Locations
Russellville, AR 215 West O Street, Russellville, AR 72801
Ozark, AR 1700 Helberg Lane, Ozark, AR 72949
Fort Smith, AR 1000 Fianna Way, Fort Smith, AR 72919
Russellville, AR 2201 S. Knoxville Ave., Russellville, AR 72802