Pros and Cons of Living in Northwest Arkansas - Part 1

From an amazing school system to the world’s biggest companies, Northwest Arkansas provides its residents with many opportunities for growth and development. Education and employment opportunities abound in the region, making it an attractive destination for those looking to make a new home.

The pros of living in Northwest Arkansas include access to an amazing school system and the presence of three of the biggest companies in the world. Students are required to take a mandatory technology or coding course before they graduate.

NWA offers plenty of options for people seeking quality education and career options. The businesses in the region provide awesome jobs for many residents and magnetize many midsize to large companies. Keep reading to learn about the pros of living in NWA for employees, students, and families.

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Amazing School System

The first pro of living in Northwest Arkansas is the fantastic school system. We have so many exceptional A+ schools that no matter where you send your kid, they will have the best academic experience.

University of Arkansas

The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville is one of the best educational institutions in the whole state of Arkansas. They boast several records, notable alumni, and, most importantly, comprehensive education. It’s also the largest in the state, with an acceptance rate of 83% and a graduation rate of about 60% in full-time studies.

So far, the institution offers more than 125 degree programs, from law to accounting, engineering, food science, and more. Its campus comprises more than 370 buildings spread across 512 acres (207 hectares).

The University of Arkansas has recorded several successes over the years. It has ranked among the top 20 universities. Most of its graduates are working at top Fortune 500 companies. And for the first time in 2022, it has seen an enrollment of 30,000 students.

Northwest Arkansas Community College (NACC)

The community college in NWA has also attracted several locals. You can find its main campus in Bentonville’s suburbs off Interstate 49.

After its founding in 1990, Northwest Arkansas Community College welcomed 1,200 students. This number has grown to 8,308 students in the 2018/19 academic session.

Aspiring students can apply for any of its 50+ degrees and certificate programs, ranging from criminal justice to environmental science.

The students’ clubs and organizations available are also highly engaging, contributing to its holistic educational experience.

John Brown University (JBU)

JBU is an interdenominational Christian school in Siloam Springs, AR. It has borne various names since its founding in 1919, but the current one is after its founder, John E. Brown, who was inspired to provide quality education to the less privileged.

He laid down the campus’s foundation, now 200 acres (80.9 hectares), comprising several buildings. There are two off-campus locations in Little Rock and Rogers, Arkansas.

The college offers over 40 undergraduate majors, including engineering, nursing, and graphics design. With an acceptance rate of 53%, it enrolls more than 2,300 students from 33 states and 45 countries.

Three of the World’s Biggest Companies

Unsurprisingly, NWA has been pulling numerous businesses lately. They range from developing startups to large companies because some of the world’s biggest names reside here.

Walmart, one of the world’s largest retailers, has its headquarters in Bentonville, NWA. Their presence has brought so much development and job opportunities to the area. You’ll also find the world-renowned Tyson Foods’ head office in Springdale.

Together with J.B. Hunt, many other businesses form the Northwest Arkansas Council and seek the region’s continuous growth, as discussed in this article.

Walmart Headquarters, Bentonville

Despite becoming the most prominent retail outlet in the country, Walmart hasn’t abandoned its roots in Northwest Arkansas. The first shop by its founder, Sam Walton, became public in 1962, Rogers.

Nine years later, the company opened its first distribution center and home office in Bentonville, and it’s been history since then.

The whole region has benefitted from the founder and his family in numerous ways, especially the working population.

Their company, foundations, and partners have in some way sponsored several projects, events, and competitions, including the following:

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Walmart NW Arkansas Championships
Bentonville Community Center
Scott Family Amazeum
8th Street market
The Momentary
Osage Park
NWA Razorback Regional Greenway

Also, I have a 3-day itinerary that can help you decide what activities to do if you’re overwhelmed by everything Northwest Arkansas has to offer.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a foodie, a sports person, a sightseer, or want to spend quality time with your kids; I have something for you. Check out the link below to learn more:

https://www.allthingsnwa.com/3-day-itinerary-northwest-arkansas

J.B. Hunt

Northwest Arkansas also has Johnnie Hunt to thank for opening the head office of what would become a transport and logistics giant outside Lowell.

Today, the headquarters is in Lowell, a small town in Benton County, after moving from Stuttgart in 1972.

Its presence has undoubtedly been one of the reasons behind the town’s impressive growth of nearly 50 percent from 2000 to 2010. Impressively, about 10,000 people reside in the 6,195-acre (2,507-hectare) area, according to the 2020 census.

Like Walmart, J.B. Hunt and its founding family have delivered humanitarian aid in various ways to the region.

In 2021, the company committed $5 million to the Arkansas Children’s Northwest expansion when it had already made a $5 million donation for its construction in 2016.

A year later, the department was named after J.B. Hunt at the University of Arkansas and received $1.5 million. Their statement reveals that the partnership is to make “Northwest Arkansas an epicenter for developing tomorrow’s industry and its leaders.”

These sorts of investments will continually improve NWA for the residents’ benefit.

Tyson Foods

With a history dating back to the 1930s, Tyson Foods is one of the oldest American companies of its kind. Its new corporate offices moved to Oaklawn Drive, Springdale, in the 1970s and have been in the area as its headquarters since then.

Tyson Foods have been of immense help to Northwest Arkansas. To promote quick recovery, it donated over 250,000 pounds (113,398 kilograms) of protein to Springdale locals affected by a storm in March 2021.

The company has planned to bring 1000 corporate jobs to Springdale in 2023, which excites every resident, including the mayor, Doug Sprouse.

These are a few of several similar works of the companies you can benefit from if you live here.

For more information, check out part 2 where I discuss all the awesome outdoor activities available to you at NWA.

Conclusion

Living in Northwest Arkansas has numerous pros, including benefiting from its amazing education system. The University of Arkansas and John Brown University have produced several notable alumni, and you or your relatives could be one of such today.

Moreover, you’ll enjoy the presence of large companies headquartered here. They provide job opportunities, develop the area, and attract other large businesses.

Pros and Cons of Living in Northwest Arkansas – Part 1