UAM vs. UAFS

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas at Monticello in Monticello, AR with University of Arkansas Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Arkansas Fort Smith is larger than UAM based on total student enrollment (5,496 students vs. 2,856 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Arkansas at Monticello is located in Monticello, AR (Remote Town setting); University of Arkansas Fort Smith is in Fort Smith, AR (Small City setting).
• University of Arkansas at Monticello is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas at Monticello 12:1; University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1.

UAM vs. UAFS Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAM or UAFS? 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 Fort Smith than UAM ($11,159 vs. $14,613).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas at Monticello are 14.7% lower than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($8,600 vs. $10,082).
• University of Arkansas at Monticello is 26.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $1,958 more per year; $9,292.00 vs. $7,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22% higher at UAM than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $2,675 more per year; $14,857.00 vs. $12,182.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas at Monticello than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (96% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arkansas at Monticello students is 1.3% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students ($7,812 vs. $7,715).

UAM vs. UAFS Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UAM or UAFS? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UAFS and UAM.

• University of Arkansas at Monticello reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAM - Open admission; UAFS - Required.
• Enrolled freshman UAFS students have a 0.68 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at UAM (2.71).

UAM vs. UAFS Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAM and UAFS? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• The graduation rate at UAM is the same as at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (23% vs. 23%).
• Graduates from University of Arkansas Fort Smith earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than UAM graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,000 vs. $33,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $868 lower median loan debt than UAM graduates ($14,132 vs. $15,000).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UAM graduates ($146 vs. $155).
• More UAFS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAM students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 38%)

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.