University of Arkansas

Walton College

The Sam M. Walton College of Business

About Walton College

About Walton College

Since its founding at the University of Arkansas in 1926, the Sam M. Walton College of Business has grown to become the state's premier college of business – as well as a nationally competitive business school.

 

At a Glance

Students

Student Footprint

Walton College currently serves over 8,900 students. Learn more about our students, their program choices, and outcomes. At a Glance: Walton Business Students.

gsb

Graduate School

Our Graduate School of Business administers MBA, EMBA, and Ph.D programs as well as other graduate and certificate programs.

industry support

Industry Support

Deep connections with retail and transportation sectors have created tremendous research opportunities with some of the world's largest companies.

outreach

Outreach

Nine outreach centers at the Walton College collaborate with industry and government to identify and address important business and economic issues.

The "Epic" of Walton College

The story of the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas doesn’t begin or end with the historic $50 million gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation. That watershed moment in 1998, however, has proven to be a fitting tribute to our past, a solid foundation for our present, and a significant springboard toward our future.

Former faculty, staff, students, and donors helped build a college worthy of the largest upfront cash gift ever given to a public business school at that time. At the same time, the gift provided the much-needed resources for unprecedented growth and recognition as a nationally competitive college.

And with our footings solidly in place, the Walton College is perfectly positioned to become a top-tier public business school. This is the story of how we got where we are and how we plan to get where we’re going.

Our Roots

The Walton College traces its roots to 1926 when Harvard graduate Charles Fichtner helped form the University of Arkansas School of Business Administration and became its first dean. Four faculty members and 21 students met that year on the third floor of Old Main, where curricula were available in accounting, banking and finance, general business, industrial management, and marketing.

The college grew over the decades, adding more and more students, faculty, and offerings. Continue reading...

old main

Mission, Vision, and History

Through teaching, research, and service, Walton College is a thought leader and a catalyst for transforming lives in Arkansas, the United States and the world. Learn more.

Students

Accreditation

AACSB Accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education. The Sam M. Walton College of Business is within this prestigious few. Learn more.

leadership

Leadership

The Walton College leadership team guides the college in both academic and administrative ventures. The staff and faculty that lead our college are a paramount component to our success. Learn more.

OSIE

Data and Reports

A resource for information, evaluations, and outcomes tracking. Decisions are informed by data at all levels of the college.
View Data & Reports.

Facilities

Our Facilities: Built For Business

The exceptional facilities you'll find at the Sam M. Walton College of Business are the result of decades of planning, dedication, and key financial support from our alumni and supporters.

Walton College Facilities
Northwest Arkansas Companies

The Power of Place

The Sam M. Walton College of Business is located thirty minutes away from the headquarters of the world’s largest retailer, Walmart.

In the past twenty years, over 300 Fortune 500 companies have established satellite offices in Northwest Arkansas to support Walmart.

These companies provide our students with unparalleled access to summer internships, part time employment during the regular semesters, and lucrative job opportunities both in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the world after graduation.

Walton College Career Center Life in Northwest Arkansas
Sam Walton

The Sam Walton Legacy

On October 6, 1998, the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation made the largest upfront cash gift ever given to a public business college – $50 million – to establish the Sam M. Walton College of Business Administration.

Learn More
Industry Support

Industry Support

Successful alumni, business leaders, and influential industry advisors lend their time, talents, and valuable insights to inform our curriculum, bolster our research, and create meaningful connections between academia and industry.

Executive Advisory Board  Alumni Advisory Council

Accounting Department: Advisory Board
MBA Alumni Advisory Board
Retail Advisory Board
Supply Chain Management Research Center: Board Members
Diversity and Inclusion: Corporate Advisory Board
Enterprise Systems Advisory Board Business Integrity Leadership Initiative: External Advisory Board
Information Technology

Information Technology Specialty

Innovative organizations place high value on cross-disciplinary leaders, and we've positioned our curriculum to meet that demand. When information technology expertise is blended with traditional business disciplines, our graduates can 'pull it all together' to make timely, informed decisions for their employers.

Enterprise technology gifts from industry partners have greatly benefited our programs. These include real-world data sets from Sam's Club, Tyson Foods, Dillard's, Acxiom and Walmart.

Enterprise Systems Information Systems Department

Technology Support Center
Information Technology Research Institute