Student Enrollment
Supply Chain Program
by Gartner
Best Public Undergraduate
Business Program
U.S. News and World Report
Annual Graduates
About Walton College
Ranking organizations are increasingly recognizing the Walton College. U.S. News & World Report recognized the College as the 25th best public undergraduate business program and 36th among public and private institutions. Based on an analysis of federal student loan data, The Wall Street Journal found that the Walton College MBA program is one of the best values in the country, ranking it 11th in return on investment.
The Walton College's supply chain management program is consistently recognized as one of the best in the world. In 2020, 2022, and 2024, Gartner ranked the Walton College undergraduate program as #1 in North America, and in 2022 and 2024, ranked its graduate program as #2 in North America.
The global reputation of the Walton College faculty continues to grow as well. World-renowned experts are choosing to make the Walton College their academic home, and several academic departments have recently been recognized for their research productivity.
The information systems department is ranked sixth in the world in research productivity.
The management and strategy, entrepreneurship and venture innovation departments, when considered jointly, were ranked 16th overall in the Texas A&M University/University of Georgia Management Department Research Productivity rankings.
The accounting department was ranked 38th overall in the BYU 2020 accounting research rankings.
The supply chain management department was most recently ranked fifth in research productivity by the Supply Chain Management Journal List.
Our Vision
The vision of the Sam M. Walton College of Business is through our teaching, research, and service, we will be a thought leader and a catalyst for transforming lives in Arkansas, the United States, and the World. Clearly, we are steadily progressing toward this vision.
Each year, the College graduates approximately 1,700 students who enter the workforce or start their own business. Our alumni are leading some of the world's largest companies, including:
- Shelley Simpson
- President & CEO of J.B. Hunt Transport Services - Doug McMillon
- President & CEO of Walmart Inc.
Walton College faculty are highly cited by researchers throughout the world. Ten of our faculty members have been cited at least 10,000 times, and Walton faculty account for 13 of the top 25 most cited scholars at the University of Arkansas.
Each year, the College graduates approximately 2,000 students who enter the workforce or start their own business. Our students are equipped with knowledge and skills in their chosen field. They know how to communicate and think critically. Our alumni are leading some of the world’s largest companies. To name a few, alumna Shelley Simpson is president and CEO of J.B. Hunt Transport Services (one of the world’s leading transportation companies) and alumnus Doug McMillon is President and CEO of Walmart Inc. (the world’s largest company by revenue).
As the College moves forward toward its 100th year in 2026, our objective is to accelerate the impact we are making on our local, national, and global communities. Students throughout the United States are increasingly choosing the Walton College to prepare for and launch their professional journey. Faculty are increasingly seeing the Walton College as a platform to be a thought leader in business.
We are positioned in Northwest Arkansas, one of the most dynamic regions in the United States, and due to focused brand-building and marketing efforts, the Walton College is climbing in reputation and rankings.
The time for accelerating our impact is now. The pieces are in place. Our future is one of even greater impact than we only recently imagined.
To accelerate our impact on Arkansas, the United States, and the World, we launch a stakeholder-focused, capability-driven strategy. This strategy is informed by our stakeholders. Its formulation has included our faculty and staff, students, alumni, and our business partners. The impact of a business school primarily occurs through and by its stakeholders. We will focus on further building the capabilities needed to serve, equip, and leverage our stakeholders.
Our Strategic Goals
Elevate the Student Experience
The Walton College student experience should be transformative, easy to navigate, and full of opportunity.
Learn MoreEmpower Faculty and Staff
To best serve our students and all stakeholders, faculty and staff must be at their best.
Learn MoreGrow Partnerships
Growing partnerships with business and alumni to build a committed community.
Learn MoreDetailed Strategic Plan
Goal 1: Elevate the Student Experience
The Walton College student experience should be transformative, easy to navigate, and full of opportunity for those with the mindset, skills, knowledge, relationships, and experiences needed to thrive in a future that is uncertain and ambiguous.
Action 1.1.1
Action 1.1.2
Action 1.1.3
Action 1.2.1
Action 1.3.1
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Action 1.3.3
Goal 2: Enhance Faculty and Staff
To best serve our students and all stakeholders, faculty and staff must be at their best. They need the skills, knowledge, opportunities, and passion to carry out our teaching, research, and outreach missions.
Action 2.1.1
Action 2.1.2
Action 2.1.3
Action 2.2.1
Action 2.2.2
Action 2.2.3
Action 2.2.4
Action 2.2.5
Action 2.2.6
Action 2.3.1
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Action 2.3.3
Action 2.3.4
Goal 3: Grow Partnerships with Business and Alumni
Being a business thought leader and a catalyst for transforming lives requires more than just a committed, passionate faculty and staff. It requires a community of alumni, benefactors, corporate partners, small businesses, entrepreneurs, faculty, and staff who are committed to the mission of advancing and disseminating business knowledge through world-class teaching and research. Through the interconnectivity of these stakeholders, opportunities will increase, and outsized impacts can be achieved.
Action 3.1.1
Action 3.1.2
Action 3.2.1
Action 3.2.2
Action 3.2.3
Action 3.3.1
Goal 4: Increase Impact on Society
Business can be one of the world’s greatest forces for good. Business can lift people out of poverty, increase society’s standard of living, include previously unincluded people, and unleash creativity to solve our biggest societal challenges. Through our students, faculty, staff and alumni, the Walton College positively impacts society through business, particularly Arkansas.
Action 4.1.1
Action 4.1.2
Action 4.1.3
Action 4.2.1
Action 4.2.2
Action 4.3.1
Action 4.3.2
By focusing on (1) elevating our student experience, (2) enhancing our faculty and staff, (3) growing our partnerships with business and alumni, and (4) increasing our impact on society, we will accelerate the Walton College impact where our vision demands – Arkansas, the United States, and the World.