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Black River Technical College transforms lives through quality academic and career education to enhance the community we serve.
- BRTC Mission Statement

Founded as Black River Vocational Technical School in 1971, the school is a public, 2-year college with an open admissions policy and committed to meeting the technical, academic, professional, cultural, and personal enrichment needs of the citizens of Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri. The college was renamed Black River Technical College in 1991 and is governed by a board of trustees.

Black River Technical College annually enrolls approximately 2,500 students.

BRTC faculty share a devotion to their diverse disciplines and programs and a commitment to the intellectual, technical, and professional growth of their students. The typically small student-faculty ratio permits students to have a productive learning relationship with their instructors.


Black River Technical College transforms lives through quality academic and career education to enhance the community we serve.

BRTC will lead our community in learning and economic development.

  • Quality – At Black River, we strive to provide our students with excellent academic programs, encouraging support services, and administrative support to meet students’ goals.
  • Learning – We provide degree programs, professional training, enrichment experiences, and collaborative opportunities to foster career and personal improvement.
  • Students – Students’ needs are the foundation of our academic, co-curricular, and financial planning.
  • Community Relationships – The strengths and challenges of our community shape us. We collaborate with our community to share strengths and resources, learn together, and address the needs of our region.
  • Black River Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
  • Under agreement with the Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE), BRTC offers associate degrees, technical certificates, certificates of proficiency, and adult and continuing education courses.
  • BRTC annually enrolls approximately 2,500 students from its surrounding area and offers classes on campus in Pocahontas and Paragould during the day and evening. Many classes are also available online.
  • BRTC offers a student-faculty ratio of 13:1 which permits students to have a productive learning relationship with their instructors.
  • BRTC works hard, by keeping tuition as low as possible and providing financial assistance when possible, to help students finance their education.
  • BRTC has an ongoing and ever-evolving assessment program which identifies and celebrates the college’s strengths and weaknesses. For more information about assessment at BRTC, see the  Assessment section.

Black River Technical College is an equal opportunity institution and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, handicap/disability, or other unlawful factors in employment practices, or admission and treatment of students. Any questions regarding this policy should be addressed to the Vice President for Finance, Black River Technical College, Post Office Box 468, Pocahontas, Arkansas 72455, (870) 248-4000, ext. 4031

In accordance with Act 1048 of 2007 of Arkansas statute, BRTC has adopted a formal policy and procedures detailing its compliance with state legislation that formally prohibits racial profiling by Arkansas law enforcement. This policy and procedure model applies to all campus law enforcement officials. The policy affirms that all law enforcement officers of the BRTC Police Department shall base pedestrian or motor vehicle stops, detentions, investigative activities, searches, property seizures, or arrests of a person upon a standard of reasonable suspicion or probable cause in compliance with the U.S. Constitution and Arkansas Constitution. The full text of this policy is contained in the BRTC Policy and Procedures Manual, and shall be made available upon written request to the Office of Campus Police, AD 112-B.

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