ATU vs. Central

Deciding between Arkansas Tech University and University of Central Missouri? 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
University of Central Missouri

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • ATU Russellville, AR
  • Central Warrensburg, MO
  • Setting
  • ATU Remote Town
  • Central Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • ATU 8,746
  • Central 12,857
  • Type
  • ATU Public 4 Year
  • Central Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ATU #960
  • Central #723
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ATU -
  • Central -
  • Status
  • ATU Non-profit
  • Central Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ATU
  • Central

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ATU $8,674
  • Central $10,050
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ATU $14,668
  • Central $18,600
  • Room & Board
  • ATU $10,338
  • Central $10,740
  • Average Net Price
  • ATU $12,626
  • Central $14,943
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ATU $9,901
  • Central $7,811
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ATU 93%
  • Central 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ATU 3,654
  • Central 5,647
  • Admitted
  • ATU 3,504
  • Central 3,603
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ATU 95.9%
  • Central 63.8%
  • Enrolled
  • ATU 33.6%
  • Central 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ATU 990
  • Central
  • Typical ACT score
  • ATU 20
  • Central 22
  • Average High School GPA
  • ATU 3.37
  • Central 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ATU B+
  • Central A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ATU Extremely Easy
  • Central Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ATU
  • Central Low
  • ACT Range
  • ATU 17/23
  • Central 19/25
  • SAT Range
  • ATU 880/1100
  • Central
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ATU Required
  • Central Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ATU
  • Central

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ATU 17:1
  • Central 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ATU
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Business (12%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Central
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ATU 43%
  • Central 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ATU $37,100
  • Central $41,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ATU 51%
  • Central 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ATU $17,750
  • Central $22,441
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ATU $183
  • Central $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ATU 42%
  • Central 46%
  • % Women
  • ATU 58%
  • Central 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ATU Low
  • Central Low
  • HBCU
  • ATU No
  • Central No
  • % White
  • ATU 76%
  • Central 77%
  • % Asian
  • ATU 1%
  • Central 1%
  • % Black
  • ATU 10%
  • Central 11%
  • % Hispanic
  • ATU 6%
  • Central 4%
  • % Native American
  • ATU 1%
  • Central 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ATU 0%
  • Central 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ATU 3%
  • Central 4%
  • % International
  • ATU 4%
  • Central 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ATU 0%
  • Central 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ATU 94%
  • Central 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ATU 5%
  • Central 15%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Central Missouri is larger than ATU based on total student enrollment (12,857 students vs. 8,746 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arkansas Tech University is located in Russellville, AR (Remote Town setting); University of Central Missouri is in Warrensburg, MO (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Arkansas Tech University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Central Missouri is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arkansas Tech University 17:1; University of Central Missouri 18:1.

ATU vs. Central Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ATU or Central? 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 Central ($12,626 vs. $14,943).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arkansas Tech University are 3.7% lower than at University of Central Missouri ($10,338 vs. $10,740).
  • University of Central Missouri is 15.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than ATU (about $1,376 more per year; $10,050.00 vs. $8,674.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.8% higher at Central than at Arkansas Tech University (about $3,932 more per year; $18,600.00 vs. $14,668.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Central Missouri than at Arkansas Tech University (96% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arkansas Tech University students is 26.8% larger than aid received by University of Central Missouri students ($9,901 vs. $7,811).

ATU vs. Central Admissions comparison

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

  • Incoming Central students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 20 at 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; University of Central Missouri 19/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ATU - Required; Central - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Central students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at ATU (3.37).
  • ATU has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than Central (63.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.6% at ATU vs. 28.6% at Central.

ATU vs. Central Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ATU and Central? 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).

  • University of Central Missouri's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Arkansas Tech University's (43%).
  • Graduates from University of Central Missouri earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than ATU graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,500 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Arkansas Tech University graduates have a $4,691 lower median loan debt than Central graduates ($17,750 vs. $22,441).
  • Among borrowers, ATU graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Central graduates ($183 vs. $232).
  • More Central graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ATU students, three years after graduation. (59% 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.