Arkansas Colleges of Health Education

Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) is a private nonprofit institution in Fort Smith focused on graduate and professional health training. It currently enrolls graduate and professional students rather than undergraduate students. Its schools offer osteopathic medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, biomedical science, public health, and health-leadership pathways. Applicants should first choose the specific school: each program uses its own prerequisites and application process. The ACHE program directory is the best starting point for comparing fields.

Application planning: use the program’s own calendar

For one current example, the Doctor of Physical Therapy program uses PTCAS for May 2027 entry. Its published cycle opened June 15, 2026; the October 1 priority date has passed, while the final deadline is April 1, 2027. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree, specified science and psychology prerequisites, official transcripts, and two references; at least one reference from a physical therapist is preferred. The school reviews applications on a rolling basis and may invite qualified applicants to interview. Check the current cycle and speak with Admissions before paying for an application. The DPT application page has the requirements and PTCAS link.

Scholarships and ways to finance graduate study

ACHE’s Financial Aid Office works with eligible students on federal student loans, private loans, veterans’ benefits, state programs, and institutional or outside scholarships; FAFSA code 042568. Awards are program-specific and depend on available funds. The current scholarship page, for example, lists two $4,000 institutional awards for the Physical Therapy Class of 2028, alongside restricted recruitment and service awards in other programs. These are competitive cohort awards, not a general discount. Check eligibility, deadline, renewal terms, and how an award applies to tuition before including it in a budget. See ACHE scholarship information and contact Financial Aid for the active cycle.

Fort Smith campus and student perspectives

The main campus is at 7000 Chad Colley Boulevard, Fort Smith, AR 72916; the main number is (479) 308-2243. The institution lists 8 a.m.–5 p.m. hours for its institutional contact, and its Financial Aid Office is on campus; confirm the weekday schedule and visitor access before traveling. The college presents the Fort Smith site as its central campus; its schools and research/wellness center are campus facilities, not separate college branches.

The small number of public graduate-student comments tends to praise faculty accessibility, a supportive learning environment, and Fort Smith’s quieter setting. One recurring practical consideration is the workload: students describe demanding programs that can make balancing study and social time difficult. Because experiences vary by school, ask current students in your exact program about clinical placements, advising response times, and weekly study demands. Read public graduate-student comments about ACHE.