University of Arkansas Attracts Best and Brightest with Growing Number of Freshman Merit Scholars

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For the fourth consecutive year, the University of Arkansas has moved up among colleges and universities that attract the most National Merit Scholars.

Statistics issued by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. and published in the Feb. 25 edition of “The Chronicle of Higher Education” rank the university 47th among public and private institutions, tied with Dartmouth College, Grinnell College and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, with 47 scholarships awarded in 2004.

The university was 18th among the top 20 public institutions in the number of scholars. Among public Southeastern Conference institutions, it ranked third.

“The number and percentage of UA freshmen receiving National Merit awards illustrates the progress made by the University of Arkansas in enhancing its national and international reputation,” said Chancellor John A. White. “Considering National Merit awards are based on performance on the SAT test, rather than the ACT test -- which most Arkansans take -- the ranking of the University of Arkansas is even more impressive.”

Since 2001, the university’s rank has risen 45 positions among public and private institutions that attract National Merit Scholars. That year, the university was ranked 92nd, with 22 scholars. In 2002, the U of A rose to the 60th position, attracting 37. Last year, the university ranked 56th overall with 40 freshmen National Merit Scholars. Those students represented 1.7 percent of the entering freshman class at the U of A, a statistic that ranked the university 12th among public institutions in enrollment of freshman National Merit Scholars.

In 2004, the number of first-time, full-time degree seeking freshmen rose more than six percent. The increase in the number of freshmen National Merit Scholars from 40 to 47 represents a 17.5 percent increase overall, and the number of 2004 freshmen Merit Scholars represents 1.9 percent of the entering class of degree seeking freshmen.

“One of the great things about these numbers is what they say about Arkansas,” said Suzanne McCray, associate dean of the Honors College. “Forty-three of this year’s National Merit freshmen are Arkansans. This fact is a great indication that the university is maintaining its promise to keep Arkansas’ best and brightest in state and serving them with challenging and compelling programs that benefit our entire student body.”

The university assumes responsibility for funding 38 of the 47 scholarships, awarding each student $750 per year. The remaining nine scholarships are funded by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. or other corporate sponsors.

Harvard University topped the 2004 list of Freshman National Merit Scholars with 312 scholarships awarded and none funded by the institution.

The University of Florida ranked second overall and led all public institutions with 259 National Merit Scholars. The institution paid for 215 scholarships.

According to the report, 8,258 freshman Merit Scholars were enrolled across the nation in the fall of 2004. Of these, 4,963 students enrolled at 227 private colleges and universities, and 3,295 enrolled at 148 public institutions.