As of the 2020 census, Arkansas’s population was just over 3 million, making it the 34th most populated state in the United States. Today, the state relies on various sectors, including service industries, tourism, and commodity crops such as soybeans, rice, and cotton to boost their economy.
As for its education system, Arkansas is home to some public universities, with the Arkansas State University System and the University of Arkansas System being the most prominent. In addition, there are more than 10 private educational institutions, with one of them ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
If you want to study medicine in Arkansas, you have several options. The two medical schools in Arkansas are the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine. This article will include links to tuition and admissions, a brief description of these medical schools, and a look at the differences between these two schools.
Top Medical Schools in Arkansas
1. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is a public university in Little Rock, Arkansas. Founded in 1879, UAMS has become a leading medical institution in Arkansas. It was ranked 17th among the top medical schools for primary care and 76th for research, according to the U.S. News & World Report in 2023-2024.
The school is included in the University of Arkansas System, along with the UAMS Medical Center, seven institutes, six colleges, and many research facilities and community education centers around the state. Because of the need for doctors in Arkansas, UAMS has expanded to other parts of the state to increase its enrollment. Moreover, it has collaborated with other hospitals to allow more students to do clinical rotations.
UAMS is also an allopathic medical school where graduates may receive a doctor of medicine or M.D. degree. The university offers other programs related to medicine and healthcare, such as clinical nutrition, physical therapy, nursing, medical laboratory sciences, and more.
2. Arkansas Colleges of Health Education
Arkansas Colleges of Health Education is a private medical school recently established in 2014 and began accepting students in 2017. Students can do clinical rotations in several hospital systems in Arkansas, which is a vital part of the curriculum. Furthermore, it has accreditation from the American Osteopathic Association.
What makes ACHE even better is that the school has student services where students can seek counseling or advice on anything—from mental or physical health or financial counseling to their academic concerns or social well-being. This school grants graduates more specialized degrees for aspiring medical professionals, including Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Master of Public Health, and Master of Science in Biomedicine.
Students can apply for institutional and external scholarships to cover their tuition fees while attending ACHE. The institution also provides financial aid for students interested in enrolling in osteopathic medicine, physical therapy, and occupational therapy programs.
FAQs: Studying Medicine in Arkansas
What Makes Both Universities Different from One Another?
The main difference between the two institutions is the degree each grants. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences grants students M.D. degrees. In contrast, the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education grants D.O. and other specialized degrees like M.S. Biomedicine or MPH to its students.
Students with these degrees are doctors, but the degrees differ slightly in their specialization. Compared to the M.D.’s more allopathic, disease-focused approach, the D.O. focuses on the patient as a whole and provides more holistic and comprehensive therapy. Despite that, there are only a few differences between the two programs.
Despite the limited choices of medical schools in Arkansas, you can pursue your medical education, as both of the institutions mentioned above have their specializations you can choose from. For instance, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is the top pick if you want a doctoral degree in medicine. If you’re interested in osteopathic medicine or a more specialized program, we recommend Arkansas Colleges of Health Education as the best choice.
Hopefully, this article on medical schools in Arkansas was insightful and helpful. To learn more information about studying in the United States, check out the Study in the USA Page and Available Programs for International Students in the USA.
