UALR vs. UTC

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas at Little Rock in Little Rock, AR with The University of Tennessee Chattanooga in Chattanooga, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is larger than UALR based on total student enrollment (11,775 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); The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is in Chattanooga, TN (Midsize City setting).
• University of Arkansas at Little Rock is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas at Little Rock 13:1; The University of Tennessee Chattanooga 18:1.

UALR vs. UTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UALR or UTC? 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 UTC ($12,033 vs. $15,347).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas at Little Rock are 14.6% lower than at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga ($10,760 vs. $12,604).
• The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is 7.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UALR (about $700 more per year; $10,448.00 vs. $9,748.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.7% higher at UALR than at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga (about $3,646 more per year; $22,158.00 vs. $18,512.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas at Little Rock as at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga (92% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arkansas at Little Rock students is 9.7% larger than aid received by The University of Tennessee Chattanooga students ($11,013 vs. $10,038).

UALR vs. UTC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Tennessee Chattanooga (1110) is 20 points higher than at UALR (1090).
• Incoming UTC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 20 at UALR).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arkansas at Little Rock 960/1210; The University of Tennessee Chattanooga 1013/1210.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arkansas at Little Rock 17/24; The University of Tennessee Chattanooga 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UALR - Required; UTC - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: UALR Aug 17, 2027; UTC May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UTC students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at UALR (3.42).
• UTC has a higher acceptance rate (81.1%) than UALR (58.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at UALR vs. 29.2% at UTC.

UALR vs. UTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UALR and UTC? 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).

• The University of Tennessee Chattanooga's six-year graduation rate (39%) is higher than University of Arkansas at Little Rock's (21%).
• Graduates from The University of Tennessee Chattanooga earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than UALR graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,600 vs. $38,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduates have a $292 lower median loan debt than UTC graduates ($20,500 vs. $20,792).
• Among borrowers, UALR graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UTC graduates ($211 vs. $214).
• More UTC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UALR students, three years after graduation. (56% 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.