Local opinion of UALR (Fayetteville, Monticello: neighborhoods, best schools, universities)

[DanielWayne]

What is the local opinion of UALR? I grew up in SE Texas near Louisiana, so I am familiar with UALR (UALR played the local universities in basketball), but I know little more than that.

I am looking at a distance graduate program at UALR. I am considering the UALR distance program because it is inexpensive. And I am paying out of pocket. My last job would have reimbursed graduate tuition for any university that I was accepted to, but they fired everybody so I am just lucky to be employed now. Anyway, I don't need this degree to advance my career. It is more so because I am one of those people that just likes learning stuff. Also a masters would qualify me to teach at a college. So this also 'ticks a box' for me if you want to look at it that way. But I want the degree to be from a university with a decent reputation.

Point of reference - I have 2 degrees from lesser known state schools in Tx. Both universities were in bad neighborhoods. Both were considered commuter schools of last resort at the time I went. But both have good regional reputations. Actually they have strong regional reputations. I don't exactly trust the US News rankings, but it appears UALR would be ranked similarly to one of the schools I went to. And that is exactly what I am looking for.

So basically I just want to find out what the locals think of UALR. Thanks.

[Old Fossil]

I'll not go into details but our grand daughter had attended a private/church college with a great reputation but things didn't work out as the college implied and she was loosing her scholarship. She attended UALR for a summer course to help her grades and fell in love with the school and staff. She finally bailed at the end of her junior year and started attending UALR full time and again, found everything as she has experienced during the summer course. When she graduated she immediately was recruited for a high $$ job and was accepted. Long answer to a short question, but from her experience I would highly recommend the school. Oh, and I have a "senior" friend who has taken a course there and had the same experience as grand daughter did.


I do have one beef though. They are talking about starting a football team which, I'm afraid, will end up with the "tail wagging the dog". The school, in my opinion, has been known for it's academic quality and availability to everyone, so why mess it up? They do have a facility maintenance problem which does not impact the academics, but why not use those millions that football will cost on bringing the facility up to first class?


I hope you can dig an answer out of all that gibberish

[hitpausebutton2]

One of the best schools and teaching hospital in the state and nation. You will enjoy it, and long as they keep their rates steady and not be to greedy, they are the place for every body without having to be in a certain class.

[BMW335i]

Originally Posted by hitpausebutton2

One of the best schools and teaching hospital in the state and nation. You will enjoy it, and long as they keep their rates steady and not be to greedy, they are the place for every body without having to be in a certain class.

Just a point of clarification...UALR does not run the "teaching hospital"...that is technically UAMS, a separate UA entity.

[hitpausebutton2]

Originally Posted by BMW335i

Just a point of clarification...UALR does not run the "teaching hospital"...that is technically UAMS, a separate UA entity.

I assume they are under the same umbrella?

[DanielWayne]

Thanks everyone. After looking at the website I noticed that the university was fairly comprehensive and even has a law school. Furthermore, the tuition was a set rate, and it was even cheaper than in-state tuition for all the Texas schools that I was considering. I thought this could not be real. So I had to ask the locals to make sure this really is as good as it seems. I am kind of anxious now and hope I get accepted. I have been to that part of the state before, but it has been a little over a decade since.

I didn't know they were considering football. That could be good or bad. I agree I hope they have their priorities straight before they pull the trigger.

Anyway, thanks again.

[Old Fossil]

Originally Posted by hitpausebutton2

I assume they are under the same umbrella?

Nope, no way.

[photobuff42]

I remember using the library there as a high school student. Very nice campus and I think it always had a good reputation.

[kdb05f]

I think US News & World Report rates UALR as a "national university." The only one in Arkansas besides Fayetteville.

[BMW335i]

Originally Posted by hitpausebutton2

I assume they are under the same umbrella?

Well, no more than UA Monticello runs the teaching hospital.