Dr. Charles Pollard President | John Brown University
Dr. Charles Pollard President | John Brown University
Of the six institutions in the county, two provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including John Brown University and Ecclesia College.
At least 1,637 people applied to Benton County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 10,211 students enrolled in the universities, including 9,686 in undergraduate and 525 in graduate programs. In total 5.6% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (62.7%) and Hispanic (19.5%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, NorthWest Arkansas Community College stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 7,593 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
NCES shows that enrollment data was not available for two institutions in Benton County, including Career Academy of Hair Design-Siloam Springs and Career Academy of Hair Design-Rogers.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career Academy of Hair Design-Siloam Springs | -- | -- | -- |
| Career Academy of Hair Design-Rogers | -- | -- | -- |
| Ecclesia College | 147 | 81 | 157 |
| NorthWest Arkansas Community College | -- | -- | 7,593 |
| John Brown University | 1,490 | 849 | 2,326 |
| Academy of Professional Cosmetology | -- | -- | 135 |
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