Arkansas Tech University Online Master of Business Administration (MBA)

• Online MBA - Data Analytics
• Online MBA - Digital Marketing
• Online MBA - General Business

By Bernd Geels Reviewed By Jocelyn Blore

Updated September 16, 2025

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Arkansas Tech University (ATU), ranked as the fourth-largest university in Arkansas, was designated a Carnegie Classification Opportunity University in early 2025. In 2025, 479 institutions have been designated as Carnegie Opportunity Universities or Carnegie Opportunity Colleges. This designation recognizes ATU as an academic institution that can serve as a model for fostering student success. Being named a Carnegie Opportunity University identifies the recipient institution as being both highly accessible to students and a provider of academic programs whose graduates have high income potential.

The Opportunity University designation is part of a student access and earnings classification published by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. Only two four-year institutions in Arkansas, ATU and the University of Arkansas at Monticello, have thus far earned the Opportunity University designation.

The ATU online MBA program is ranked the best in Arkansas. The ATU LeMoyne Smith School of Business MBA program offers an online master of business administration (MBA) degree with three specializations: business data analytics, digital marketing, and a general MBA program. The ATU MBA program curriculum is designed to produce graduates who add substantial value to their employers, are savvy in the technology, interpersonal and other skills necessary for both success and leadership roles, and are committed to ethical business practices.

ATU, located in Russellville, Arkansas, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The ATU College of Business online MBA program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International).

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What to Expect from ATU Online MBA Programs

Admission Requirements: ATU offers both unconditional and conditional admission to its MBA program. To be offered unconditional admission, applicants must fulfill the following two requirements: 1) fulfill ATU graduate college admission requirements, and 2) meet academic performance standards based on their undergraduate GPA and/or their performance on the GRE and/or GMAT exams. Details on the academic performance thresholds necessary to gain admission can be found on the ATU website.

The requirements for conditional admission are more rigorous than those for unconditional admission. Applicants must have maintained a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 from an accredited undergraduate program or a minimum 3.0 GPA for the last 60 hours from an AACSB- or ACBSP-accredited business undergraduate program. Applicants who do not meet these GPA requirements may still be admitted on a conditional basis and allowed to enroll in up to six credits per semester. A student who maintains a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 in twelve credit hours of 6000-level MBA courses will be granted a change in status from conditional to unconditional admission. Students who fail to meet this requirement are not allowed to continue in the program unless they meet the minimum GMAT/GRE scores necessary for unconditional admission. However, the GMAT/GRE requirement may be waived provided certain conditions are met. Applicants are advised to consult the ATU website for additional details on admission requirements.

Regardless of the type of admission sought, students must demonstrate proficiency in the subjects of principles of accounting, principles of economics, business finance and business statistics. Such proficiency can be demonstrated by coursework completed at an accredited university, or certification of proficiency from a credible source, or a combination of these two criteria. Applicants should review the ATU website or contact the university directly to confirm what constitutes a complete admissions application, as well as the submission and review process.

State Restrictions: ATU welcomes students from a variety of backgrounds such as international applicants and military personnel.

International students must complete a variety of requirements beyond those typical of domestic students to receive consideration for admission. Many academic programs require international applicants to demonstrate two primary things in their applications, namely sufficient English language proficiency to suggest the applicant is unlikely to be hindered by a language barrier, and an academic background that is roughly equivalent to that of successful domestic applicants. Applicants may demonstrate their language proficiency via an examination provided by an accredited provider of such services. ATU accepts TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, and EIKEN scores. Details on the threshold scores necessary can be found on the ATU website.

Evaluation of an applicant’s academic background using their foreign transcripts must be performed by a company accepted by ATU. Details of this requirement are available on the ATU website. In addition to these requirements, international applicants must also provide documentation of the source and amount of financial resources they will use to pay educational expenses. Such documentation must have been issued within the six months immediately before the time of application. Finally, international applicants must provide documentation of their current passport, any previous visas to the United States, I-20s, and the I-94 (arrival/departure record) if available.

ATU also welcomes applications from military and related individuals, such as spouses and dependents. The ATU Office of Veteran Services offers a wealth of resources to military personnel and their families. Such resources include guidance on how to apply for benefits from sources such as the US Department of Defense Tuition Assistance program, information on organizations such as Service Members and Veterans of America (SMVA), and more. Applicants with military backgrounds should consult the ATU website or contact the university directly for guidance on how to apply to the MBA program.

Study Plan: Most students can complete these MBA degrees in 12 to 18 months. Students may study on a part-time or full-time basis. Students are allowed to transfer up to six graduate credit hours from another academic institution. Students interested in completing their program of study part-time or over an extended time period should contact a student services representative to verify the current ATU policy regarding degree study planning.

MBA Curriculum: MBA students of all tracks complete a curriculum consisting of 24 credit hours of core courses. Core courses cover the topics of accounting analysis; business information analysis; managerial economics; corporate financial management; organizational management and leadership; decision modeling in supply chain management; corporate strategic management; and digital marketing strategy.

General MBA program students complete six credit hours of elective courses. Students of the digital marketing and business data analytics tracks complete nine credit hours of electives to ultimately complete the total of 33 credit-hours necessary to graduate. Details of elective courses appear below.

• MBA – General Program Curriculum: Students complete any MBA course other than the core courses noted above.
• MBA – Business Data Analytics Curriculum: Students complete elective courses in the topics of advanced analytics; analytics strategy; and applied predictive analytics.
• MBA – Digital Marketing Curriculum: Students complete elective courses in applied predictive analytics and then complete two of the following three course options: strategic social media marketing; consumer insights; and special topics in marketing.

Online Experience: All ATU online MBA degree programs are offered fully online. There is no on-campus coursework or other participation requirements to complete this program. The online delivery model allows ATU to accommodate the needs of a diverse student body, such as working professionals whose busy lives necessitate flexible academic programs to ensure their ability to participate.

On-Site Requirements: As noted above, the MBA degree program is offered fully online. There are no on-campus requirements.

Paying for the ATU Online MBA Degree Programs

The tuition figures for the online MBA degree programs are listed in the tables below. Prospective students should carefully review the tuition information and contact ATU for additional support with applications and any questions they may have.

The ATU website maintains several webpages dedicated specifically to graduate student financial resources. These pages include information on a variety of topics, such as guidance on how to apply for federal financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a tuition and fee calculator, financial resources such as scholarships, financial literacy, and more.

Many graduate students will ultimately finance their education using a variety of resources. To determine eligibility for federal financial resources, students complete the FAFSA, which is released annually. Students from certain backgrounds may also be eligible for additional financial assistance. Military personnel are an example. Military students may be eligible to finance their education through programs such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), the Montgomery GI Bill, the Department of Defense Tuition Assistance program, and other available sources. The state of Arkansas also offers a number of education benefits for military service members. All prospective graduate students are advised to thoroughly research the ATU website to guide them in developing a strategy for financing their education.

* Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the out- of- state, part-time student rate. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Total cost of tuition does not include additional fees, unless otherwise specified. Please see the school website for the most up-to-date tuition costs.

Bernd Geels

Writer

Bernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].