PSC vs. UAFS

Comparable Facts

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

University of Arkansas Fort Smith is larger than PSC based on total student enrollment (5,496 students vs. 780 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Philander Smith University is located in Little Rock, AR (Midsize City setting); University of Arkansas Fort Smith is in Fort Smith, AR (Small City setting).
• Philander Smith University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Philander Smith University 11:1; University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1.

PSC vs. UAFS Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC 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 PSC ($11,159 vs. $14,082).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Philander Smith University are 0.8% lower than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($10,000 vs. $10,082).
• Philander Smith University is 77.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $5,680 more per year; $13,014.00 vs. $7,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.8% higher at PSC than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $832 more per year; $13,014.00 vs. $12,182.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Philander Smith University than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (99% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Philander Smith University students is 85.1% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students ($14,283 vs. $7,715).

PSC vs. UAFS Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PSC 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 PSC.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PSC - Not reported; UAFS - Required.
• Accepted freshman UAFS students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at PSC (3.04).

PSC vs. UAFS Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PSC 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).

• Philander Smith University's six-year graduation rate (31%) is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith's (23%).
• Graduates from University of Arkansas Fort Smith earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,000 vs. $26,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $16,868 lower median loan debt than PSC graduates ($14,132 vs. $31,000).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $174 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PSC graduates ($146 vs. $320).
• More UAFS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 35%)

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.