On Thursday, the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana (UAHT) and the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) announced a new partnership to enhance access to affordable higher education in Arkansas. The collaboration enables UAHT students to pursue bachelor’s degrees from UAM at some of the most affordable tuition rates in the state.

Through the partnership, UAHT students on both the Hope and Texarkana campuses can pursue bachelor’s degrees from UAM in business and education.

The Bachelor of Arts in K-6 Elementary Education degree program is scheduled to begin in May 2026, with the Bachelor of Business Administration degree program following in August 2026. Both offerings are pending approval from the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Higher Learning Commission.

The campus-within-a-campus model will offer students the opportunity to complete all four years of their degree on a UAHT campus, starting as UAHT students for the first two years before enrolling as UAM students for their junior and senior years. Students will pay UAHT tuition rates for the first two years of coursework and UAM tuition rates for their junior and senior years of coursework. Participants will have access to resources and services from both institutions and will receive an associate degree diploma from UAHT and a bachelor’s degree diploma from UAM upon graduation.

To assist with tuition costs, UAM will provide the Iron Horse Transfer Scholarship, a $3,000-per-semester award, to UAHT students who complete 55 credit hours and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA. This scholarship helps ensure the bachelor’s degrees remain among the most affordable in Arkansas.

Laura Clark, interim chancellor of UAHT, highlighted the opportunities created by the partnership, stating, “This partnership with the University of Arkansas at Monticello creates real opportunity for our students by allowing them to complete two years in education or business at UAHT and then earn a bachelor’s degree from UAM without leaving our campuses. This partnership removes barriers for students, keeps them here and supports long-term workforce growth in our region.”

“The launch of our campus-within-a-campus model with UAHT marks a significant step forward in expanding access to affordable higher education in Arkansas,” said Dr. Peggy Doss, chancellor of UAM. “This collaboration effectively meets Arkansas’ workforce education needs by providing highly qualified teachers and skilled business professionals across the state. UAHT students can now pursue bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and business administration from UAM at one of the most affordable tuition rates in the state, thanks to the Iron Horse Transfer Scholarship. We are honored to work with UAHT to demonstrate the impact of collaboration between Arkansas higher education institutions, and we look forward to creating more opportunities for students in the future.”

The announcement occurred on the UAHT Hope campus on Thursday at the Hempstead Hall Rotunda, where both Clark and Dr. Doss delivered remarks and participated in a ceremonial signing of the partnership agreement.

For more information, call the UAHT Purtle Advising Center at 870-722-8124 or visit https://www.uamont.edu/uaht/.