UALR vs. FGCU

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas at Little Rock in Little Rock, AR with Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida Gulf Coast University is larger than UALR based on total student enrollment (16,612 students vs. 8,216 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Arkansas at Little Rock is located in Little Rock, AR (Midsize City setting); Florida Gulf Coast University is in Fort Myers, FL (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of Arkansas at Little Rock is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Florida Gulf Coast University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas at Little Rock 13:1; Florida Gulf Coast University 20:1.

UALR vs. FGCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UALR or FGCU? 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 at Little Rock than FGCU ($12,033 vs. $12,863).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas at Little Rock are 3.1% lower than at Florida Gulf Coast University ($10,760 vs. $11,107).
• University of Arkansas at Little Rock is 59.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than FGCU (about $3,630 more per year; $9,748.00 vs. $6,118.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.6% higher at FGCU than at University of Arkansas at Little Rock (about $3,004 more per year; $25,162.00 vs. $22,158.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas at Little Rock than at Florida Gulf Coast University (92% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arkansas at Little Rock students is 29.3% larger than aid received by Florida Gulf Coast University students ($11,013 vs. $8,515).

UALR vs. FGCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UALR or FGCU? 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 FGCU and UALR.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Florida Gulf Coast University (1120) is 30 points higher than at UALR (1090).
• Incoming FGCU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 20 at UALR).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arkansas at Little Rock 960/1210; Florida Gulf Coast University 1040/1200.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arkansas at Little Rock 17/24; Florida Gulf Coast University 20/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UALR - Required; FGCU - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: UALR Aug 17, 2027; FGCU Nov 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman FGCU students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UALR (3.42).
• FGCU has a higher acceptance rate (63.4%) than UALR (58.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at UALR vs. 20.9% at FGCU.

UALR vs. FGCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UALR and FGCU? 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).

• Florida Gulf Coast University's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than University of Arkansas at Little Rock's (21%).
• Graduates from Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than UALR graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,200 vs. $38,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida Gulf Coast University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than UALR graduates ($19,500 vs. $20,500).
• Among borrowers, FGCU graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UALR graduates ($201 vs. $211).
• More FGCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UALR 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.