ATU vs. UAFS

Comparable Facts

Compare Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR with University of Arkansas Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arkansas Tech University is larger than UAFS based on total student enrollment (8,746 students vs. 5,496 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Arkansas Tech University is located in Russellville, AR (Remote Town setting); University of Arkansas Fort Smith is in Fort Smith, AR (Small City setting).
• Arkansas Tech University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Arkansas Tech University 17:1; University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1.

ATU vs. UAFS Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ATU or UAFS? 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 University of Arkansas Fort Smith than ATU ($11,159 vs. $12,626).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas Fort Smith are 2.5% lower than at Arkansas Tech University ($10,082 vs. $10,338).
• Arkansas Tech University is 18.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $1,340 more per year; $8,674.00 vs. $7,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.4% higher at ATU than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $2,486 more per year; $14,668.00 vs. $12,182.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than at Arkansas Tech University (95% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Arkansas Tech University students is 28.3% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students ($9,901 vs. $7,715).

ATU vs. UAFS Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ATU or UAFS? 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 UAFS and ATU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 880/1100.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ATU - Required; UAFS - Required.
• Accepted freshman UAFS students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at ATU (3.37).
• ATU has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than UAFS (80.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.6% at ATU vs. 40.2% at UAFS.

ATU vs. UAFS Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ATU and UAFS? 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 University of Arkansas Fort Smith's (23%).
• Graduates from Arkansas Tech University earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than UAFS graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,100 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $3,618 lower median loan debt than ATU graduates ($14,132 vs. $17,750).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ATU graduates ($146 vs. $183).
• More ATU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAFS students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 47%)

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.