News

UA - Pulaski Tech enrollment update shows 6.9% increase

University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College (UA-PTC) added 348 new students to its second 8-week term of the fall 2026 semester, a 16.8% increase compared to the 298 new students in fall 2025 semester. These students began their college classes on Oct. 12. A total of 1,201 students enrolled in the second 8-week semester.

The college began the fall 2026 semester with 5,108 students, a 6.3% enrollment increase over last fall's 4,806 students. However, the additional new students increased UA-PTC’s fall headcount to 5,456, a 6.9% enrollment increase over fall 2025's total of 5,104.

“Students have responded very positively to the flexibility offered by the 8-week courses,” said Chancellor Summer DeProw. “The success of this option validates our plan to offer more 8-week options going forward.”

Of the new students in the second 8-week term, the most frequently sought-after program was the Associate of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences, with 530 students. Students pursue this time-and-money-saving degree to gain versatile skills, explore career options, and prepare for transfer to a four-year university.

The second most sought-after degree/certificate program for second-8-week students was the Pre-healthcare Studies Technical Certificate with 76 students. This is a short two-semester program that students pursue to build a strong academic foundation for entering nursing or allied health programs, gain essential healthcare knowledge, and improve their chances of admission into competitive medical fields.

“Our positive enrollment trajectory reflects the confidence students and their families have in UA - Pulaski Tech’s ability to advance their careers,” said Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Ashley Henry-Saorrono. “Importantly, we are optimistic about the future based on the record setting rate of new student applications we are processing.”

Approximately 40% of UA-PTC’s students enroll in Occupational or Technical Education Programs designed to facilitate direct entry into the workplace in fields such as nursing and advanced manufacturing. 51% enroll in General Education or Transfer Programs such as Associate of Arts or Associate of Science curricula designed to satisfy requirements of the first half of a four-year degree, while 9% are non-degree seeking. These transfer students may transfer to UA Little Rock, UA Fayetteville, or many other four-year institutions in Arkansas. Specifically, UA-PTC graduates who transfer to UA Fayetteville or UA Little Rock may be eligible to pay the same tuition as UA-PTC, which yields substantial savings for students.

UA - Pulaski Tech’s enrollment includes students attending the college’s Main Campus in North Little Rock, Little Rock-South on Interstate 30, Aerospace Technology Center near the North Little Rock Airport, online classes, and high school students taking concurrent college classes.