Arkansas Students Gain Local Bachelor's Degree Path
The partnership allows students to earn degrees from UAM while completing all four years of coursework on UAHT campuses.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Financial Aid
Live Poll
Would you pursue a bachelor's degree if you could complete it entirely in your local community?
The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana and the University of Arkansas at Monticello have launched a new campus-within-a-campus partnership. This initiative allows students to complete four years of coursework for specific bachelor's degrees on UAHT campuses.
Why it matters
The program addresses the need for qualified teachers and business professionals in Arkansas by reducing barriers of distance and cost for local students. This move aims to expand access to bachelor's degrees in regions with high workforce demand.
Students pay lower UAHT tuition for their first two years and UAM rates for their junior and senior years. Participants may qualify for the $3,000-per-semester Iron Horse Transfer Scholarship by maintaining a 2.5 GPA and completing 55 credit hours.
The players
University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana
A two-year institution serving students in Southwest Arkansas.
University of Arkansas at Monticello
A four-year university offering bachelor's degree pathways through this new partnership.
The details
Students begin the program by completing an associate degree through UAHT before transitioning to UAM coursework for their final two years. This model allows them to earn a bachelor's degree in either K-6 Elementary Education or Business Administration without leaving the UAHT campus. The partnership targets regional workforce needs, specifically addressing growth in business roles and teacher shortages identified by the state.
Timeline
Registration for spring 2027 classes at UAHT opens November 2, 2026.
The new academic programming begins in the spring 2027 semester.
Education Landscape
This partnership follows the 2026 Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research teacher-need analysis, which signaled acute staff shortages across the state. It aligns with statewide projections that forecast over 8,000 new business-related jobs in Arkansas between 2022 and 2032.
If you are pursuing education or business degrees in Southwest Arkansas, you can now complete your full four-year program locally. Speak with an admissions or financial-aid adviser at UAHT to verify your credit eligibility for the Iron Horse Transfer Scholarship.
The takeaway
This partnership provides a streamlined, lower-cost path to a bachelor's degree for students who need to stay in their local community. Contact the UAHT financial-aid office to confirm your eligibility for transfer awards before the spring 2027 semester begins.
Further reading
For more on managing costs and transfer pathways, visit Financial Aid.
More information
Review the full program details on the UAHT-UAM degree partnership information page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Texarkana Today.
Live Poll
Would you pursue a bachelor's degree if you could complete it entirely in your local community?
