Higher Education

Many excellent public and private universities and colleges are located throughout the Four States Region. Whether you are searching for an advanced degree or a technical training program, there are several options available.

4-Year Institutions:

Centenary College of Louisiana is Louisiana’s only Tier One National Liberal Arts College and is ranked as one of Princeton Review’s “380 Best Colleges.” Centenary boasts 21 majors in the arts and sciences, numerous academic concentrations, a variety of pre-professional programs, and two graduate programs. There are over 60 student organizations and a full schedule of athletic and cultural events for students to participate in.

Louisiana State University Shreveport is a member of the Louisiana State University System and advertises: smaller class sizes than most institutions, with a 19:1 student to teacher ratio, outstanding faculty, with 80% of faculty having terminal degrees, and a student-centered campus offering several student activities, over 70 clubs and organizations, and nationally ranked NAIA athletic teams.

Southeastern Oklahoma State University-McCurtain County Campus, a branch campus of Southeastern Oklahoma State University, provides students with both four-year bachelor’s degree options and advanced degrees to meet the region’s needs. By having personal access to excellent teaching, challenging academic programs, and extracurricular experiences, students will develop skills and habits that promote values for career preparation, responsible citizenship, and lifelong learning.

Texas A&M University- Texarkana, a member of The Texas A&M University System, one of the largest and most distinguished higher education systems in the nation, moved to a brand new campus location in 2010 and transitioned from a two-year upper division institution to a comprehensive university. The university has continued to grow since and has added new programs, facilities, athletic teams and services for its students, faculty and staff members.

Southern Arkansas University, SAU is the fastest growing university in Arkansas. SAU is also the most affordable university in Arkansas and has the highest return on investment, according to the U.S. Department of Education. SAU was even named the sixth most affordable in the U.S. by bestvalueschools.com. Nestled in a quiet and beautiful part of south Arkansas, SAU is a great place to call home and to study a broad range of academic programs, including some unique offerings to the state and region. Along with boasting a complete college experience on campus, the University is a short drive from outdoor activities and is central to many regional hubs, such as Texarkana, Shreveport, Little Rock, etc.

Students can experience the best of both university worlds at A&M-Texarkana, finding resources characteristic of a large university with the personalized attention of a small college.  They offer in-demand academic programs with outstanding, dedicated faculty, and maintain an 18:1 student-to-faculty ratio, ensuring personalized attention and opportunities to build relationships.

2-Year Institutions:

Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas is an NCA-accredited two-year institution affiliated with the University of Arkansas System. Cossatot offers degrees and certificates in more than two dozen fields. The College also offers four Associate’s degrees completely online, and has a roster of more than 60 online courses. Cossatot has long been a leader in Distance Education. The College won the “Excellence in Distance Education Programming Award” made by the Arkansas Distance Learning Association (ARDLA) in 2001 and 2002. Many members of its faculty, both online and in-class, have been recognized at the national level for excellence in teaching, which is the primary focus of community colleges.   Online courses at CCCUA have both the rigor of in-room classes and the flexibility of anytime/anywhere learning that is so appealing to many students today.

Northeast Texas Community College is a community college serving the Northeast Texas Region and offers basic core courses, which can lead to Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degrees, and/or transfer to four-year universities, as well as Associate of Applied Science degrees and certificates which allow students to immediately enter the workforce.

Southern University at Shreveport Louisiana is a two-year university and has been voted 3rd best two-year university in a Washington Monthly Magazine, recognized as the 6th fastest growing two-year institution in the country and ranked 44th among two-year institutions graduating African American students. The institution is the only HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) comprehensive community college in Louisiana. The college has more than 30 student organizations representing educational majors, religious groups, some Greek affiliations, and club sports.

Texarkana College is dedicated to providing academic and vocational leadership to the intellectual, cultural, social and economic life of the northeast Texas region. Texarkana College is a two-year institution and offers over 60 degrees and certificates for students who are enrolled full-time or part-time—the campus provides night classes as well.

Texarkana College @ TexAmericas Center was established in 2011 to provide training and education courses for those working at Red River Army Depot and at the TexAmericas Center, as well as to provide easier access to learning in the western part of Texarkana College’s service area. The training site consists of two large multipurpose classrooms and an approximately 17,000 square feet of workshop/lab space for workforce training. Academic Credit, Continuing Education CEU courses, and workforce and industry specific courses are offered.

The University of Arkansas Community College at Hope is an accredited, open-access, two-year institution of higher education that connects students and community partners to quality education and supports a culture of academic, occupational, personal growth and enrichment programs throughout Southwest Arkansas. The college is a member of the University of Arkansas system.