UAFS vs. ECU

Comparable Facts

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

University of Arkansas Fort Smith is larger than ECU based on total student enrollment (5,496 students vs. 3,377 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UAFS vs. ECU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or ECU? 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 East Central University than UAFS ($8,565 vs. $11,159).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Central University are 15.5% lower than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($8,516 vs. $10,082).
• East Central University is 9.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $698 more per year; $8,032.00 vs. $7,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 46.5% higher at ECU than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $5,660 more per year; $17,842.00 vs. $12,182.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than at East Central University (95% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by East Central University students is 20% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students ($9,255 vs. $7,715).

UAFS vs. ECU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UAFS or ECU? 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 ECU and UAFS.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsEast Central University 900/1120.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsEast Central University 17/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAFS - Required; ECU - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman UAFS students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at ECU (3.31).
• UAFS has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than ECU (58.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.2% at UAFS vs. 42.4% at ECU.

UAFS vs. ECU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAFS and ECU? 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).

• East Central University's six-year graduation rate (34%) is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith's (23%).
• Graduates from East Central University earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than UAFS graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,300 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $2,746 lower median loan debt than ECU graduates ($14,132 vs. $16,878).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ECU graduates ($146 vs. $174).
• More UAFS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 45%)

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.