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University of Central Arkansas

  • Statistics

    Location:
    Conway, AR
    Setting:
    College Town
    Public/Private:
    Public
    Undergraduates:
    9,629
    Selectivity:
    Selective
    Acceptance Rate:
    91 %
    Tuition and Fees:
    $7,183
    See All Statistics

  • Summary

    The second-largest university in Arkansas, UCA offers solid programs, a great sports program, and a raucous partying scene.

    Certain academic disciplines at UCA are highly valued, such as business, health sciences, and education -- appropriately, since the school's initial mandate was to train a new generation of teachers. The residential colleges, which are relatively new, are a big hit, as is the Honors college; students who don't participate in either sometimes complain of feeling left out of campus life, unless they choose to pledge, as

    Greek life is also pervasive. Athletics are a way of life. Students who don't want to or can't play on the highly successful varsity teams often get their kicks playing IM sports or pursuing their own outdoorsy activities. The town of Conway doesn't get high marks as it is less diverse, open-minded, and tolerant of alcohol than the campus itself, but students can venture beyond it to Little Rock when they need an escape.

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  • Student Reviews

    Amanda
    Sociology
    Forrest City
    Class of 2015

    The hot-button issues on the campus at UCA are like most colleges and universities. Stuff like politics, health care, Occupy movements, Kony. The normal stuff. A lot of things go on at the chapel steps. I remember one time on the way to class this group of people sat there and lectured like everyone about how they were going to hell because of all these things. That caused quite a stir with the student population for hours! It was weird to see it on the way to class, then get out of class and it still be happening.
    See Complete Review »

    Current student? Review this college! Read All 45 Student Reviews »

  • Student Ratings

    1= Low/Not Active10 = High/Very Active
    9
    Professors Accessible  
    8
    Intellectual Life  
    8
    Campus Safety  
    7
    Political Activity  
    9
    Sports Culture  
    7
    Arts Culture  
    7
    Greek life  
    5
    Alcohol Use  
    3
    Drug Culture  

  • Additional Info

    UCA was originally founded in 1907 as the Arkansas State Normal School. In 1925, with a continued focus on training young men and women to be educators, it changed its name to the Arkansas State Teachers College.

    Over the next few decades, however, UCA expanded its mission, developing its liberal arts and, especially, health science programs, and in 1967, it became known as the State College of Arkansas. One last time, in 1975, to reflect its broader array of academic options, the school rechristened itself the University of Central Arkansas.

    Education and health sciences still remain top majors as well as highly reputable programs, but masters-level degrees and PhDs are also available in six different colleges.

    The small, well-kept campus is full of flowers, greenery, and plazas as well as grassy quads. Brick paths crisscross the grounds, including the Senior Legacy Walk, to which departing students can add a brick inscribed with their name for $100. The Walk makes up part of the courtyard by the new Student Center, which was remodeled in 2008. Main Hall, the oldest building on campus and a UCA icon, dates back to 1919.

    Conway, a small, conservative, religious town of 50,000, is about half an hour from Little Rock, AR, and located between two mountain ranges, the Arkansas Game and Fish reservoir, and Beaverfork Lake. Students have lots of outdoor activity options and fewer immediate social ones (the town is technically dry), but a majority of undergrads have cars and Little Rock is within easy driving distance.

    What are the major traditions on campus? Write a review and let us know!

    Scottie Pippen, NBA great

    The Bears and Sugar Bears compete in the NCAA Division I in the Southland Conference for the following sports: men's baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, track and field (indoor), and track and field (outdoor), and women's basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field (indoor), track and field (outdoor), and volleyball. They are Division I-AA for football.

    In 2008, the Bears were the unofficial champions of the Southland conference, due to a technicality; in the 2005-2006 season, as part of the Gulf South Conference, the men's teams won the All Sports Trophy.

    The school's name has changed four times in 100 years.

    UCA's undergrad population this year is its largest in history.

    Male athletes are known as Bears while female athletes are called Sugar Bears (though for a long time they were "the Bearettes").

    Dorm options include residence halls, apartments, and family-style housing. Freshmen generally live in the residence halls -- doubles and some suites -- which are clustered on the North Side, including Short/Denney Hall, Farris Hall, Hughes Hall, New Hall, and State Hall, and the South Side, including Baridon Hall, Bernard Hall, Carmichael Hall, Conway Hall, and Arkansas Hall.

    Four co-ed learning communities on campus make up the UCA residential colleges system, an option available to all freshmen: Hughes, State Residential College, Minton, and Short/Denney.