The Arkansas Tech University Master of Business Administration program is reporting the highest spring enrollment in its history.
There are 74 students pursuing the credential through the ATU College of Business and Economic Development during spring 2026. That figure represents a 51 percent increase compared to spring 2025 and it marks the first time in the past five years that spring enrollment in the program has exceeded the previous fall semester.
Arkansas Tech launched its MBA program in 2017.
“One key driver of enrollment growth is the launch of the AB2M (accelerated bachelor to master) programs several years ago,” said Dr. Peng “Roc” Huang, professor of finance and economics and director of the MBA program at Arkansas Tech. “The accelerated BSBA+MBA program was among the first AB2M programs approved at ATU. It has created a stable and effective pipeline that encourages BSBA students to continue directly into the MBA program. To date, this has become the largest AB2M program on campus, with 69 students accepted. The program provides an efficient and streamlined pathway for students to pursue an MBA.”
Huang cited fully online delivery, affordability and faculty engagement as some of the additional reasons why the ATU MBA program is growing.
He reported that ATU MBA graduates are employed across a wide range of industries, including retail, manufacturing, energy, transportation, finance, health care and the public sector.
“Recent alumni work at organizations such as Walmart, Tyson Foods, Entergy, J.B. Hunt, Arvest Bank, Saatchi & Saatchi X and state government agencies,” said Huang.
Students may pursue concentrations in general business, business data analytics or digital marketing through the ATU MBA program.
U.S. News and World Report has named ATU’s program the No. 1 online MBA program in Arkansas.
“This recognition has strengthened our national reputation and attracted new students,” said Huang. “It has also increased the diversity of our student body. Students are now joining us from states and institutions not previously represented in our MBA program, including several prestigious universities. In addition, ATU’s decision to offer in-state tuition rates to both in-state and out-of-state graduate students several years ago has continued to help attract more out-of-state students.”
The ATU Lemoyne Smith School of Business and its programs, including the MBA program, are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
“Many of our MBA students are either current AB2M students or ATU alumni, which shows that these students choose to stay with ATU,” said Tracy Cole, dean of the ATU College of Business and Economic Development. “They get to know our outstanding, committed, caring faculty members and have great experiences here as undergraduates, so they want to continue their educational journeys with us. These are highly capable, successful students who have many choices and opportunities, and our faculty, staff and institution give them compelling reasons to choose the ATU LeMoyne Smith School of Business.”
Visit www.atu.edu/business/schoolofbusiness to learn more.
