ATU vs. CBC

Deciding between Arkansas Tech University and Central Baptist College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arkansas Tech University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ATU Russellville, AR
  • CBC Conway, AR
  • Setting
  • ATU Remote Town
  • CBC Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ATU 8,746
  • CBC 547
  • Type
  • ATU Public 4 Year
  • CBC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ATU #960
  • CBC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ATU -
  • CBC Baptist
  • Status
  • ATU Non-profit
  • CBC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ATU
  • CBC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ATU $8,674
  • CBC $21,330
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ATU $14,668
  • CBC $21,330
  • Room & Board
  • ATU $10,338
  • CBC $8,500
  • Average Net Price
  • ATU $12,626
  • CBC $17,469
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ATU $9,901
  • CBC $13,240
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ATU 93%
  • CBC 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ATU 3,654
  • CBC 260
  • Admitted
  • ATU 3,504
  • CBC 165
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ATU 95.9%
  • CBC 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • ATU 33.6%
  • CBC 66.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ATU 990
  • CBC 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • ATU 20
  • CBC 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • ATU 3.37
  • CBC 3.15
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ATU B+
  • CBC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ATU Extremely Easy
  • CBC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ATU
  • CBC Low
  • ACT Range
  • ATU 17/23
  • CBC 17/23
  • SAT Range
  • ATU 880/1100
  • CBC 883/1121
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ATU Required
  • CBC Required
  • Application Deadline
  • ATU
  • CBC Aug 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ATU 17:1
  • CBC 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ATU
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Business (12%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • CBC
    • Business (33%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (18%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Human Services (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ATU 43%
  • CBC 35%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ATU $37,100
  • CBC $40,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ATU 51%
  • CBC 55%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ATU $17,750
  • CBC $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ATU $183
  • CBC $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ATU 42%
  • CBC 55%
  • % Women
  • ATU 58%
  • CBC 45%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ATU Low
  • CBC Medium
  • HBCU
  • ATU No
  • CBC No
  • % White
  • ATU 76%
  • CBC 67%
  • % Asian
  • ATU 1%
  • CBC 0%
  • % Black
  • ATU 10%
  • CBC 24%
  • % Hispanic
  • ATU 6%
  • CBC 3%
  • % Native American
  • ATU 1%
  • CBC 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ATU 0%
  • CBC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ATU 3%
  • CBC 1%
  • % International
  • ATU 4%
  • CBC 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ATU 0%
  • CBC 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ATU 94%
  • CBC 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ATU 5%
  • CBC 27%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ATU Yes
  • CBC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ATU No
  • CBC No
  • Meal Plan
  • ATU Yes
  • CBC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ATU Yes
  • CBC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ATU No
  • CBC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR with Central Baptist College in Conway, AR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arkansas Tech University is larger than CBC based on total student enrollment (8,746 students vs. 547 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arkansas Tech University is located in Russellville, AR (Remote Town setting); Central Baptist College is in Conway, AR (Distant Town setting).
  • Arkansas Tech University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Central Baptist College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arkansas Tech University 17:1; Central Baptist College 9:1.

ATU vs. CBC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ATU or CBC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arkansas Tech University than CBC ($12,626 vs. $17,469).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Baptist College are 17.8% lower than at Arkansas Tech University ($8,500 vs. $10,338).
  • Central Baptist College is 145.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than ATU (about $12,656 more per year; $21,330.00 vs. $8,674.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 45.4% higher at CBC than at Arkansas Tech University (about $6,662 more per year; $21,330.00 vs. $14,668.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Baptist College than at Arkansas Tech University (99% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Baptist College students is 33.7% larger than aid received by Arkansas Tech University students ($13,240 vs. $9,901).

ATU vs. CBC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ATU or CBC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CBC and ATU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Central Baptist College (1000) is 10 points higher than at ATU (990).
  • Incoming ATU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 20) as students at CBC (20).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 880/1100; Central Baptist College 883/1121.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 17/23; Central Baptist College 17/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ATU - Required; CBC - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CBC Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ATU students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at CBC (3.15).
  • ATU has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than CBC (63.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.6% at ATU vs. 66.1% at CBC.

ATU vs. CBC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ATU and CBC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Arkansas Tech University's six-year graduation rate (43%) is higher than Central Baptist College's (35%).
  • Graduates from Central Baptist College earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than ATU graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,100 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Arkansas Tech University graduates have a $7,250 lower median loan debt than CBC graduates ($17,750 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, ATU graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CBC graduates ($183 vs. $258).
  • More CBC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ATU students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.