Henderson State University vs. Central

Should I go to Henderson State University or University of Central Missouri? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Henderson State University or Central is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Henderson State University vs. University of Central Missouri comparison
Henderson State University University of Central Missouri College 3 College 4
Henderson State University University of Central Missouri
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Overview

Henderson State University Central
Location Arkadelphia, AR Warrensburg, MO
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 2,136 12,788
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #988 #710
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hsu.edu ucmo.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Henderson State University Central
Tuition (In State) $6,163 $8,325
Tuition (Out of State) $8,160 $16,650
Room & Board $10,680 $10,206
Avg Net Price $16,929 $15,728
Avg Grant Aid $9,017 $6,193
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 96%

Admission

Henderson State University Central
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,814 4,966
Admitted 1,486 3,407
Acceptance Rate 81.9% 68.6%
Enrolled % 20.6% 31.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.68
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/21 19/25
SAT Range 903/1073
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2026

Academics

Henderson State University Central
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Education (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (8%)

Outcomes

Henderson State University Central
Graduation Rate 31% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $41,500
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $22,441
Median Loan Payment $201 $232

Diversity

Henderson State University Central
% Men 8% 21%
% Women 23% 22%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 66% 77%
% Black 24% 11%
% Hispanic 4% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Henderson State University Central
% In-State 77% 86%
% Out-of-State 21% 12%

Campus

Henderson State University Central
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Central Missouri is larger than than Henderson State University based on total student enrollment (12,788 students vs. 2,136 students)

Henderson State University vs. Central Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Henderson State University or Central?

  • University of Central Missouri is 35.1% more expensive to attend than Henderson State University for in-state tuition ($8,325.00 vs. $6,163.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 104% higher at Central than Henderson State University ($16,650.00 vs. $8,160.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Central Missouri than Henderson State University ($15,728 vs. $16,929)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Missouri are 4.6% lower than costs at Henderson State University ($10,206 vs. $10,680)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Henderson State University than University of Central Missouri (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Henderson State University students is 45.6% larger than aid received University of Central Missouri ($9,017 vs. $6,193)

Henderson State University vs. Central Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Henderson State University or Central? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Central or Henderson State University .

  • The average SAT score at University of Central Missouri (1010) is 22 points higher than at Henderson State University (988)
  • Incoming Central students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Henderson State University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Central students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Henderson State University (3.23)
  • Henderson State University has a higher acceptance rate (81.9%) than Central (68.6%)

Henderson State University vs. Central Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Henderson State University or Central? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Central and Henderson State University.

  • The graduation rate at Central is higher than Henderson State University (50% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from University of Central Missouri earn on average $3,100 more per year than Henderson State University graduates after ten years. ($41,500 vs. $38,400)
  • Henderson State University students graduate with a $2,941 lower median federal student loan debt than Central graduates. ($19,500 vs. $22,441)
  • Henderson State University graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Central graduates. ($201 vs. $232)
  • More Central graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Henderson State University students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 48%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/