UAFS vs. Bethany College

Comparable Facts

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

University of Arkansas Fort Smith is larger than Bethany College based on total student enrollment (5,496 students vs. 615 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UAFS vs. Bethany College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or Bethany 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 Fort Smith than Bethany College ($11,159 vs. $28,192).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas Fort Smith are 27.9% lower than at Bethany College ($10,082 vs. $13,977).
• Bethany College is 350% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $25,666 more per year; $33,000.00 vs. $7,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 170.9% higher at Bethany College than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $20,818 more per year; $33,000.00 vs. $12,182.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bethany College than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bethany College students is 231.6% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students ($25,583 vs. $7,715).

UAFS vs. Bethany College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UAFS or Bethany 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 Bethany College and UAFS.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBethany College 883/1020.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBethany College 15/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAFS - Required; Bethany College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman UAFS students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Bethany College (3.16).
• UAFS has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than Bethany College (56%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.2% at UAFS vs. 22.1% at Bethany College.

UAFS vs. Bethany College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAFS and Bethany 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).

• Bethany College's six-year graduation rate (42%) is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith's (23%).
• Graduates from Bethany College earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than UAFS graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,400 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $12,868 lower median loan debt than Bethany College graduates ($14,132 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $133 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bethany College graduates ($146 vs. $279).
• More Bethany College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAFS students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 47%)

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.