MANDY AND BILL
DILLARD II HALL

Building the Future

Founded in 1926, the Sam M. Walton College of Business is the largest college at the University of Arkansas, serving over 10,000 undergraduate, master's and doctoral students. The college holds AACSB accreditation and consistently ranks among the top business schools in the United States.

The Walton College ranks 25th for its undergraduate business program and 24th for graduate business programs among public colleges in the U.S. News & World Report's 2025 national rankings. Gartner recoginzed the Walton College as the number one undergraduate supply chain management program in North America. Additionally, the Princeton Review ranked the Sam M. Walton College of Business 22nd in its 2025 listing of Top Graduate Entrepreneurship Programs.

At the Walton College, we empower students through unparalleled experiential learning, strategic industry partnerships, and a culture of innovation rooted in Sam Walton's entrepreneurial legacy.

CREATING SPACE TO SUCCEED

In Fall 2025, more than 10,000 students are enrolled in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, representing nearly one-third of total campus enrollment.

This is an increase of over 60% from 2019. In response to this growth, demand for modern, flexible learning spaces as well as student collaboration space has increased significantly. In the 2024-25 academic year, hundreds of Walton College classes were taught in buildings outside of the main business building complex.

The addition of a new academic building that includes classrooms and collaboration/study spaces will allow Walton College students to take more classes within the business complex and provide increased opportunities for students to interact with faculty and staff, collaborate with each other, and connect with the companies who regularly engage on campus with our students.

WHERE GROWTH MEETS OPPORTUNITY

Each day, thousands of students will traverse thorugh and by this new academic building.

The new adacemic building will add an estimated 100,000 square feet and addresses the Walton College's primary space challenges by adding larger, more flexible classrooms and significant study and gathering space.

The proposed new building should allow most Walton College classes to be offered within this building complex, enabling students, faculty, and staff to benefit from additional spaces to learn, study and collaborate to enhance the educational experience.

WALTON COLLEGE NAMES NEW ACADEMIC BUILDING

The Sam M. Walton College of Business will name our new academic building Mandy and Bill Dillard II Hall, recognizing the Dillard family's significant contributions to Arkansas business and the university.

“We are deeply grateful for the vision and generosity that Bill and Mandy Dillard continue to invest in our university," said Scott Varady, vice chancellor for advancement. Dillard Hall builds on their long history of opening doors for students, from the Land of Opportunity Scholarship to the William Dillard Department of Accounting, and will help prepare talented students who will strengthen the industries that anchor Arkansas’ economy.

The building's name honors a family that's been central to Arkansas business for decades. Bill Dillard II has watched his family's company grow from a single department store to one of the country's major fashion retailers, all while staying rooted in Arkansas and creating jobs throughout the state. Dillard II has been a generous supporter of the college over the years.

AN INVITATION TO SHAPE THE FUTURE

As the College moves forward toward its 100th anniversary in 2026, our objective is to accelerate our impact on local, national, and global communities. We invite philanthropic investors to join us as we bulid to provide students, faculty, and staff with the spaces they need to learn, study, and collaborate by seeking $25 million in support by 2027 with a goal of reaching $40 million by time of completion.