SouthArk vs. NWACC

Comparable Facts

Compare South Arkansas College in El Dorado, AR with NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, AR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College is larger than SouthArk based on total student enrollment (8,412 students vs. 1,207 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• South Arkansas College is located in El Dorado, AR (Remote Town setting); NorthWest Arkansas Community College is in Bentonville, AR (Small City setting).
• South Arkansas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. NorthWest Arkansas Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: South Arkansas College 12:1; NorthWest Arkansas Community College 13:1.

SouthArk vs. NWACC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SouthArk or NWACC? 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 NorthWest Arkansas Community College than SouthArk ($7,329 vs. $7,674).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at NorthWest Arkansas Community College are 5.8% lower than at South Arkansas College ($9,000 vs. $9,555).
• NorthWest Arkansas Community College is 33.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than SouthArk (about $1,242 more per year; $4,926.00 vs. $3,684.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.6% higher at SouthArk than at NorthWest Arkansas Community College (about $294 more per year; $5,532.00 vs. $5,238.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Arkansas College than at NorthWest Arkansas Community College (84% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by South Arkansas College students is 21% larger than aid received by NorthWest Arkansas Community College students ($5,493 vs. $4,541).

SouthArk vs. NWACC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SouthArk or NWACC? 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 NWACC and SouthArk.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SouthArk - Open admission; NWACC - Open admission.

SouthArk vs. NWACC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SouthArk and NWACC? 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).

• Graduates from NorthWest Arkansas Community College earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than SouthArk graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,500 vs. $31,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, South Arkansas College graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than NWACC graduates ($9,500 vs. $13,750).
• Among borrowers, SouthArk graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NWACC graduates ($98 vs. $142).
• More NWACC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SouthArk students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 37%)

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.