“A graduate-only health sciences campus in Fort Smith, Arkansas, training the next generation of physicians, therapists, and public health leaders for underserved communities.”
Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) is a private, not-for-profit health sciences institution founded in 2016 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, dedicated exclusively to educating the next generation of healthcare professionals for underserved communities across the American South and Midwest. The institution anchors a sprawling 542-acre medical education campus and operates as an umbrella organization for multiple graduate health programs, most notably the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (ARCOM), which welcomed its inaugural class of 150 students in 2017 and has rapidly become one of Arkansas's premier medical schools. In April 2025, ARCOM received Accreditation with Exceptional Outcome, the highest designation awarded by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, granted for a full 10 years — an extraordinary achievement for an institution only eight years into operation. ACHE's mission is to educate and train a diverse group of highly competent and compassionate healthcare professionals and to create health and research facilities that improve outcomes for underserved populations. The campus is located in Fort Smith, the second-largest city in Arkansas, at the confluence of the Arkansas and Poteau Rivers on the Oklahoma border, providing students access to a regional healthcare ecosystem spanning multiple states. ACHE has expanded rapidly beyond its founding DO program, now encompassing Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Medical Science, Doctor of Executive Leadership, Doctor of Public Health, Master of Science in Biomedicine, and Master of Public Health programs. ACHE is a purely graduate health sciences institution with no undergraduate programs, best suited for post-baccalaureate students committed to careers in medicine, therapy, or public health. The institution continues to grow: a Physician Assistant program is anticipated to enroll its first class in May 2028 pending ARC-PA accreditation. International students interested in ACHE should carefully research US medical licensing requirements (USMLE, COMLEX, state boards), as pathways to medical practice in the United States involve multi-step licensure processes beyond graduation.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Test Required — All applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores.
Official SourceARCOM Rolling Admissions
ARCOM uses rolling admissions via AACOMAS; apply early for best consideration. Contact admissions for specific cycle deadlines.
Allied Health Programs
Deadlines vary by program; check achehealth.edu for current cycle deadlines
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
—
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$54,450
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
A four-year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program educating compassionate osteopathic physicians with focus on patient-centered, whole-person care and service to underserved communities.
Clinically focused doctoral programs in occupational therapy and physical therapy preparing advanced practitioners for community-based healthcare settings.
Population health programs emphasizing rural and community health, nutrition, and health systems leadership.
Executive leadership programs for working healthcare professionals seeking to advance to administrative and policy roles.
4 years
ARCOM's flagship four-year DO program with 10-year COCA accreditation at the Exceptional Outcome level. Graduates are licensed to practice medicine in all 50 states and can pursue residencies in any specialty.
2 years
Skills-based MPH with concentrations in nutrition and rural and community health, designed for professionals seeking to improve health outcomes in underserved and rural Arkansas communities.
3 years
Entry-level clinical doctoral program preparing physical therapists for practice across acute care, outpatient, and community settings in the Arkansas-Oklahoma-Texas region.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
