UAPB vs. Messenger College

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in Pine Bluff, AR with Messenger College in Bedford, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is larger than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (2,005 students vs. 24 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is located in Pine Bluff, AR (Small City setting); Messenger College is in Bedford, TX (Small City setting).
• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Messenger College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 12:1; Messenger College 8:1.

UAPB vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAPB or Messenger College? 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 Pine Bluff than Messenger College ($12,373 vs. $25,941).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff are 30.9% lower than at Messenger College ($9,194 vs. $13,305).
• Messenger College is 23.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAPB (about $2,208 more per year; $11,620.00 vs. $9,412.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 54.8% higher at UAPB than at Messenger College (about $6,372 more per year; $17,992.00 vs. $11,620.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff than at Messenger College (96% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff students is 176.2% larger than aid received by Messenger College students ($10,883 vs. $3,940).

UAPB vs. Messenger College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UAPB or Messenger College? 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 Messenger College and UAPB.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 845/1108.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 14/18.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAPB - Required; Messenger College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Messenger College Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UAPB students have the same average high school GPA (2.9) as students at Messenger College (2.9).
• UAPB has a higher acceptance rate (41.2%) than Messenger College (37.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.1% at UAPB vs. 66.7% at Messenger College.

UAPB vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAPB and Messenger College? 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).

• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff's six-year graduation rate (23%) is higher than Messenger College's (10%).
• Graduates from University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than Messenger College graduates about ten years after starting college ($30,200 vs. $24,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Messenger College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAPB students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 30%)

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.