UAFS vs. Bethel

Should I go to University of Arkansas Fort Smith or Bethel University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UAFS or Bethel is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of Arkansas Fort Smith vs. Bethel University comparison
University of Arkansas Fort Smith Bethel University College 3 College 4
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Overview

 UAFS Bethel
Location Fort Smith, AR McKenzie, TN
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 5,379 4,686
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1002
Religious Affiliation - Cumberland Presbyterian - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uafortsmith.edu bethelu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UAFS Bethel
Tuition (In State) $4,104 $16,222
Tuition (Out of State) $11,376 $16,222
Room & Board $9,645 $13,446
Avg Net Price $10,705 $13,858
Avg Grant Aid $8,283 $13,396
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

 UAFS Bethel
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 2,489
Admitted - 2,210
Acceptance Rate 88.8%
Enrolled % 20.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/22
SAT Range 928/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 UAFS Bethel
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Precision Production Trades (10%)
  • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (10%)
  • Business (78%)
  • Education (5%)
  • Biology (3%)
  • Health Professions (3%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (2%)

Outcomes

 UAFS Bethel
Graduation Rate 23% 32%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,000 $42,700
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,132 $28,250
Median Loan Payment $146 $292

Diversity

 UAFS Bethel
% Men 40% 46%
% Women 60% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 70% 46%
% Black 4% 40%
% Hispanic 11% 1%
% Native American 2% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 5%
% Two or More Races 6% 1%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 5%

Students

 UAFS Bethel
% In-State 87% 80%
% Out-of-State 12% 19%

Campus

 UAFS Bethel
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Arkansas Fort Smith is larger than than Bethel based on total student enrollment (5,379 students vs. 4,686 students)

UAFS vs. Bethel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or Bethel?

  • Bethel University is 295.3% more expensive to attend than UAFS for in-state tuition ($16,222.00 vs. $4,104.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 42.6% higher at Bethel than University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($16,222.00 vs. $11,376.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than Bethel ($10,705 vs. $13,858)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas Fort Smith are 39.4% lower than costs at Bethel University ($9,645 vs. $13,446)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than Bethel University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bethel University students is 61.7% larger than aid received University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($13,396 vs. $8,283)

Which college is harder to get into, UAFS or Bethel? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bethel or UAFS .

  • Accepted freshman Bethel students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at UAFS (3.39)

UAFS vs. Bethel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UAFS or Bethel? 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 Bethel and UAFS.

  • The graduation rate at Bethel is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith (32% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from Bethel University earn on average $7,700 more per year than UAFS graduates after ten years. ($42,700 vs. $35,000)
  • University of Arkansas Fort Smith students graduate with a $14,118 lower median federal student loan debt than Bethel graduates. ($14,132 vs. $28,250)
  • UAFS graduates are paying $146 less per month on federal student loans than Bethel graduates. ($146 vs. $292)
  • More UAFS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethel students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 33%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/