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More Milestones

The transformational power of higher education has been our driving force for more than 70 years. Founded in 1951, Grantham Radio License School developed as part of the traditional college and university movement of the late 20th Century with a main campus in Southern California. As interest in Grantham’s degree programs grew beyond campus boundaries, the college developed distance education programs to serve a geographically dispersed student body. Over time and as technology advanced, so too did our ability to serve our students. Since 2000, Grantham began offering degree programs exclusively online.

Today, Grantham University has joined the University of Arkansas System and we have a new name: University of Arkansas Grantham. UA Grantham serves adult learners who deserve more when it comes to higher education. We are still 100% online, offering more than 50 degree and certificate programs in four different colleges: The College of Science, Engineering, and Technology; the College of Business, Management, and Economics; the College of Nursing and Health Professions; and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

UA Grantham
Viewbook

Introducing our new Viewbook. Get to know UA Grantham better in one quick, concise document.
Donald Grantham sitting in front of a microphone

A Pioneer in Education: Donald Grantham

World War II Veteran Donald Grantham understood how the G.I. Bill of Rights and its education benefits would transform the lives of returning servicemen. Grantham founded the Grantham Radio License School in Los Angeles, California. Soon after, the name was changed to Grantham School of Electronics.

Campuses Across the Country

In 1955, the school opened sites in Washington, D.C., and Hollywood, California. In the years to follow, additional campuses were opened in Seattle, Washington, and Kansas City, Missouri. At one time, Grantham School of Electronics’ facilities also included the Grantham Electronics Institute Labs in Washington, DC; Falls Church, Virginia; and Dania, Florida. A second Los Angeles campus was established in 1974.
Vregh Godoshian, Grantham graduate, operating a television camera

Graduate in Action

The smiling gentleman operating the television camera is Grantham graduate Vregh Godoshian. He was a technician and operator for WNEM-TV and FM in Pontiac, Michigan. Vregh graduated from the Washington, D.C. campus in January of 1958.

Ad in Popular Mechanics from the 1960's featuring Grantham University

1960s

1960: Pictured—Ad in Popular Mechanics magazine featuring the Grantham School of Electronics.

1961: Grantham School of Electronics became accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council [now the Distance Education Accrediting Commission], which is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency.

1968: The institution’s name changed to Grantham College of Engineering. Throughout the following years, the college consolidated all of its activities to one location in Los Angeles, California, that offered only distance learning programs.


Robert Winchester, graduate, who opened Tele-Car Communications

The Beginning of Mobile Communications

Pictured here is Robert Winchester, a graduate of the Seattle division of the Grantham School of Electronics. In 1961, he opened Tele-Car Communications, the fastest growing mobile communication firm in the Northwest.

1970s

1971: The Grantham College of Engineering moved to Falls Church, Virginia, and began awarding its first associate degrees.

1976: Donald Grantham discontinued residential school operations to concentrate completely on distance education.

1977: Grantham College of Engineering was the only school in the United States offering an accredited Bachelor of Science in Electronics through distance education

Grantham graduate Robert Falkner, veteran and president of Gold Star Recording Company

Gold Star Recording President

Graduate Robert Falkner, WWII veteran and president of Gold Star Recording Company, is supervising an “on the spot” recording of a dance band. He attended the Grantham School of Electronics, gaining knowledge he credited with helping him set up his own recording studio.

Ad from the inside cover of Popular Electronics, featuring Grantham University

1980s

1985: The Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology was launched.

1989: Pictured—This ad appeared on the inside front cover of Popular Electronics, highlighting Grantham’s student-centric focus.


Grantham received approval to operate and relocate to Louisiana

1990s

1990: Pictured—Grantham College of Electronics received approval to operate and relocated to Louisiana.

1993: Grantham became licensed to operate by the Louisiana Board of Regents.

1994: The college’s programmatic offerings expanded with the addition of a new Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree.


Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes cutting the ribbon on Grantham University's new Kansas City location

Grantham Finds New Home in Kansas City

In April 2006, Kansas City (Missouri) Mayor Kay Barnes helped Grantham University formally open its new Kansas City location with a ribbon cutting.

2000s

2002: Grantham College of Engineering launched its Business School and simultaneously became Grantham University. From 2002 to 2005, Grantham expanded its online degree selection by adding criminal justice and master’s degree programs.

2005: After Hurricane Katrina destroyed all but one building on the Grantham University campus in Slidell, Louisiana, Grantham relocated to Kansas City, Missouri. In that same year, the Missouri Department of Higher Education certified Grantham to operate in the State of Missouri.

2007: Grantham University was selected by the College of the Air Force to participate in its Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative (AU-ABC) program. A new Grantham partnership allowed FBI National Academy graduates to continue their education and obtain advanced degrees. Grantham is one of seven accredited universities selected nationwide as a partner in this effort.

2010: Grantham University began offering an RN to BSN Nursing Degree Completion program and a Master of Science in Nursing. The university launched 10 new programs in nursing and allied health, as well as information systems, information systems security and performance improvement.

2014: To accommodate a growing employee base for an ever-expanding and worldwide student population, Grantham University relocated its main campus to a facility across the state line in Lenexa, Kansas. This same year, the university was recognized for hiring military veterans by the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

2016: Grantham University received programmatic accreditation from ABET for its Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering Technology program; the College of Business, Management and Economics received first-time programmatic accreditation from the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).

2017: Grantham University launched a new Grantham Gives Back Community Grant funded by employee contributions. The grant is open to non-profit community organizations whose missions align with the university’s. The Commander Everett Alvarez, Jr. Resilience Scholarship was founded to help bridge the gap in annual Tuition Assistance benefits for military service members.

2019: The Heroes Program was founded for military, first responders, civil servants and eligible family members. The program recognizes their service with reduced tuition, complimentary textbooks and software, and no technology fees. Grantham was designated a Purple Heart University by the Military Order of the Purple Heart for its commitment to the military veteran community. Grantham University landed on Military Times’ ‘Best for Vets: College 2020’ list and seven degree programs were ranked in the top 50.

2020s

2020: “Licensed or certified patient care workers” were added to the list of students eligible for the Heroes Program. Grantham achieved accreditation for its College of Nursing undergraduate and graduate programs by CCNE, the Commission for Education in Nursing. Grantham University named 6th most military friendly school in the nation; the MBA – Project Management was ranked a top five program by Intelligent.com; and the university’s engineering programs were named a best value program by Value Colleges. Grantham awarded grants to students and alumni providing COVID-19 solutions in their communities. The first virtual commencement was held to honor the Class of 2020. There were 30,000+ virtual attendees.

2021: Grantham University joined the University of Arkansas System and became the University of Arkansas Grantham. UA Grantham relocated its headquarters to Little Rock, Ark., and kept its operational location in Lenexa, Kan. The university remains committed to its mission of providing quality, affordable, professionally-relevant programs as part of Arkansas’s premiere higher education system.


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By submitting this form, I agree that University of Arkansas Grantham may email, call and/or text me about education programs at the number provided including a wireless number, possibly utilizing automated dialing technology. Message and data rates may apply. Providing this consent is not required in order to enroll. If I live outside the U.S., I am giving consent to transfer my data to the U.S. I also agree to the terms in our privacy policy.