UALR vs. Northwest

Deciding between University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Northwest Missouri State University? 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.

University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Northwest Missouri State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UALR Little Rock, AR
  • Northwest Maryville, MO
  • Setting
  • UALR Midsize City
  • Northwest Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UALR 8,216
  • Northwest 9,152
  • Type
  • UALR Public 4 Year
  • Northwest Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UALR #773
  • Northwest #896
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UALR -
  • Northwest -
  • Status
  • UALR Non-profit
  • Northwest Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UALR
  • Northwest
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UALR $9,748
  • Northwest $10,611
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UALR $22,158
  • Northwest $17,324
  • Room & Board
  • UALR $10,760
  • Northwest $12,282
  • Average Net Price
  • UALR $12,033
  • Northwest $16,790
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UALR $11,013
  • Northwest $9,101
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UALR 92%
  • Northwest 95%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UALR 4,335
  • Northwest 5,185
  • Admitted
  • UALR 2,548
  • Northwest 4,464
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UALR 58.8%
  • Northwest 86.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UALR 21.8%
  • Northwest 22.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UALR 1090
  • Northwest 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • UALR 20
  • Northwest 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • UALR 3.42
  • Northwest 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UALR B+
  • Northwest B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UALR Easy
  • Northwest Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • UALR Low
  • Northwest
  • ACT Range
  • UALR 17/24
  • Northwest 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • UALR 960/1210
  • Northwest 976/1193
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UALR Required
  • Northwest Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UALR Aug 17, 2027
  • Northwest
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UALR 13:1
  • Northwest 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UALR
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (6%)
  • Northwest
    • Business (29%)
    • Education (17%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Agriculture (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UALR 21%
  • Northwest 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UALR $38,000
  • Northwest $41,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UALR 51%
  • Northwest 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UALR $20,500
  • Northwest $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UALR $211
  • Northwest $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UALR 39%
  • Northwest 35%
  • % Women
  • UALR 61%
  • Northwest 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UALR High
  • Northwest Low
  • HBCU
  • UALR No
  • Northwest No
  • % White
  • UALR 52%
  • Northwest 79%
  • % Asian
  • UALR 2%
  • Northwest 1%
  • % Black
  • UALR 27%
  • Northwest 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UALR 7%
  • Northwest 4%
  • % Native American
  • UALR 0%
  • Northwest 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UALR 0%
  • Northwest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UALR 9%
  • Northwest 3%
  • % International
  • UALR 2%
  • Northwest 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UALR 0%
  • Northwest 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UALR 91%
  • Northwest 62%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UALR 8%
  • Northwest 35%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas at Little Rock in Little Rock, AR with Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northwest Missouri State University is larger than UALR based on total student enrollment (9,152 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); Northwest Missouri State University is in Maryville, MO (Remote Town setting).
  • University of Arkansas at Little Rock is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwest Missouri State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas at Little Rock 13:1; Northwest Missouri State University 16:1.

UALR vs. Northwest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UALR or Northwest? 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 Northwest ($12,033 vs. $16,790).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas at Little Rock are 12.4% lower than at Northwest Missouri State University ($10,760 vs. $12,282).
  • Northwest Missouri State University is 8.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UALR (about $863 more per year; $10,611.00 vs. $9,748.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27.9% higher at UALR than at Northwest Missouri State University (about $4,834 more per year; $22,158.00 vs. $17,324.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest Missouri State University than at University of Arkansas at Little Rock (95% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arkansas at Little Rock students is 21% larger than aid received by Northwest Missouri State University students ($11,013 vs. $9,101).

UALR vs. Northwest Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Arkansas at Little Rock (1090) is 10 points higher than at Northwest (1080).
  • Incoming Northwest students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at UALR).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arkansas at Little Rock 960/1210; Northwest Missouri State University 976/1193.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arkansas at Little Rock 17/24; Northwest Missouri State University 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UALR - Required; Northwest - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UALR Aug 17, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northwest students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at UALR (3.42).
  • Northwest has a higher acceptance rate (86.1%) than UALR (58.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at UALR vs. 22.2% at Northwest.

UALR vs. Northwest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UALR and Northwest? 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).

  • Northwest Missouri State University's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than University of Arkansas at Little Rock's (21%).
  • Graduates from Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than UALR graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $38,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Northwest graduates ($20,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, UALR graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northwest graduates ($211 vs. $258).
  • More Northwest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UALR students, three years after graduation. (63% 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.