Arkansas Baptist College

Little Rock, AR
1600 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Little Rock, AR 72202-6068
501-420-1200

Arkansas Baptist College (ABC) is a private, historically black college (HBCU) in Little Rock, Arkansas. Founded in 1884 as the Little Rock Baptist Seminary, it is the oldest HBCU in Arkansas and one of the oldest in the United States. The college is affiliated with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It offers bachelor's and associate's degrees in a variety of disciplines.

In 1884, a group of African-American ministers and laymen founded the Little Rock Baptist Seminary to provide religious and academic training for the state's black population. The seminary was housed in a small frame building on Ninth Street between Center and Cumberland streets in Little Rock. It operated as a high school and college, offering courses in theology, Bible, English, Latin, Greek, and mathematics.

The seminary struggled in its early years, as most of its students were poor and could not afford to pay tuition. In 1886, the Arkansas Baptist State Convention assumed control of the seminary and renamed it Arkansas Baptist College. The college relocated to larger quarters on West Markham Street in 1890. In 1929, it moved to its current campus on West Capitol Avenue.

Over the years, the college has faced many challenges, including the Great Depression, desegregation, and financial difficulties. But it has persevered, and today it is a thriving institution with an enrollment of over 700 students. Arkansas Baptist College offers a variety of degree programs and is committed to providing a quality education to its students.



Quick Facts

Enrollment: 468

Type: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

Main Website: https://www.arkansasbaptist.edu/

Financial Aid: https://www.arkansasbaptist.edu/financial-aid/

Annual Costs

Total Cost In-State On-Campus: $23060

Total Cost Out-State On-Campus: $23060