UAPB vs. UAFS

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in Pine Bluff, 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 UAPB based on total student enrollment (5,496 students vs. 2,005 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is located in Pine Bluff, AR (Small City setting); University of Arkansas Fort Smith is in Fort Smith, AR (Small City setting).
• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 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 Pine Bluff 12:1; University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1.

UAPB vs. UAFS Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAPB 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 UAPB ($11,159 vs. $12,373).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff are 8.8% lower than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($9,194 vs. $10,082).
• University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is 28.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $2,078 more per year; $9,412.00 vs. $7,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.7% higher at UAPB than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $5,810 more per year; $17,992.00 vs. $12,182.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (96% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff students is 41.1% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students ($10,883 vs. $7,715).

UAPB vs. UAFS Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UAPB or UAFS? 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 UAFS 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; UAFS - Required.
• Accepted freshman UAFS students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at UAPB (2.9).
• UAFS has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than UAPB (41.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.1% at UAPB vs. 40.2% at UAFS.

UAPB vs. UAFS Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAPB and UAFS? 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 graduation rate at UAPB 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 $4,800 more per year than UAPB graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,000 vs. $30,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $12,616 lower median loan debt than UAPB graduates ($14,132 vs. $26,748).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $130 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UAPB graduates ($146 vs. $276).
• More UAFS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAPB students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.