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K-State ESU University of Missouri-Columbia Nebraska Arkansas Iowa University of Missouri-Kansas City Johnson County Community College OU Baker Washburn University CU Boulder| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | University of Kansas | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UALR | KU | ||
| Location | Little Rock, AR | Lawrence, KS | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 8,158 | 28,406 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #782 | #291 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ualr.edu | ku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UALR | KU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,818 | $10,596 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $16,573 | $28,308 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,352 | $10,818 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $11,225 | $18,322 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,968 | $10,644 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 89% |
Admission |
UALR | KU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,661 | 19,226 | ||
| Admitted | 2,114 | 16,958 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 57.7% | 88.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.6% | 31% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.42 | 3.66 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 18/23 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 890/1170 | 1050/1290 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 17, 2026 | Aug 15, 2026 |
Academics |
UALR | KU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UALR | KU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 21% | 61% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $38,000 | $54,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 51% | 66% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,500 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $211 | $211 |
Diversity |
UALR | KU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 11% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 52% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 27% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 9% | 5% | ||
| % International | 2% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
UALR | KU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 91% | 55% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 9% | 43% | ||
Campus |
UALR | KU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Kansas is larger than than UALR based on total student enrollment (28,406 students vs. 8,158 students)
UALR vs. KU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UALR or KU?
- University of Kansas is 82.1% more expensive to attend than UALR for in-state tuition ($10,596.00 vs. $5,818.00)
- Out of state tuition is 70.8% higher at KU than University of Arkansas at Little Rock ($28,308.00 vs. $16,573.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Arkansas at Little Rock than KU ($11,225 vs. $18,322)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas at Little Rock are 15.7% lower than costs at University of Kansas ($9,352 vs. $10,818)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Arkansas at Little Rock than University of Kansas (96% vs. 89%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 6.8% larger than aid received University of Arkansas at Little Rock ($10,644 vs. $9,968)
UALR vs. KU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UALR or KU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between KU or UALR .
- The average SAT score at University of Kansas (1145) is 155 points higher than at UALR (990)
- Incoming KU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at UALR (21)
- Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at UALR (3.42)
- KU has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than UALR (57.7%)
UALR vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UALR or KU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between KU and UALR.
- The graduation rate at KU is higher than University of Arkansas at Little Rock (61% vs. 21%)
- Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $16,600 more per year than UALR graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $38,000)
- University of Kansas and UALR graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($20,500 vs. $20,500)
- University of Kansas and UALR graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($211 vs. $211)
- More KU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UALR students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 51%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/