UAFS vs. McPherson College

Should I go to University of Arkansas Fort Smith or McPherson College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UAFS or McPherson College 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. McPherson College comparison
University of Arkansas Fort Smith McPherson College College 3 College 4
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Overview

 UAFS McPherson College
Location Fort Smith, AR McPherson, KS
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 5,506 788
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Church of Brethren - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uafortsmith.edu mcpherson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UAFS McPherson College
Tuition (In State) $4,512 $34,072
Tuition (Out of State) $11,376 $34,072
Room & Board $9,799 $10,322
Avg Net Price $10,387 $25,490
Avg Grant Aid $7,827 $22,929
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

 UAFS McPherson College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,677 1,209
Admitted 2,181 1,013
Acceptance Rate 81.5% 83.8%
Enrolled % 40.6% 23.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.33
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24
SAT Range 936/1126
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

 UAFS McPherson College
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Precision Production Trades (10%)
  • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (10%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Education (8%)

Outcomes

 UAFS McPherson College
Graduation Rate 23% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,000 $44,200
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,132 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $146 $268

Diversity

 UAFS McPherson College
% Men 0% 0%
% Women 1% 0%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 70% 70%
% Black 4% 10%
% Hispanic 11% 12%
% Native American 2% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 2%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

 UAFS McPherson College
% In-State 86% 27%
% Out-of-State 13% 69%

Campus

 UAFS McPherson College
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 McPherson College based on total student enrollment (5,506 students vs. 788 students)

UAFS vs. McPherson College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or McPherson College?

  • McPherson College is 655.1% more expensive to attend than UAFS for in-state tuition ($34,072.00 vs. $4,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 199.5% higher at McPherson College than University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($34,072.00 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 McPherson College ($10,387 vs. $25,490)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas Fort Smith are 5.3% lower than costs at McPherson College ($9,799 vs. $10,322)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at McPherson College than University of Arkansas Fort Smith (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by McPherson College students is 192.9% larger than aid received University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($22,929 vs. $7,827)

UAFS vs. McPherson College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman UAFS students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at McPherson College (3.33)
  • McPherson College has a higher acceptance rate (83.8%) than UAFS (81.5%)

UAFS vs. McPherson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UAFS or McPherson College? 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 McPherson College and UAFS.

  • The graduation rate at McPherson College is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith (46% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from McPherson College earn on average $9,200 more per year than UAFS graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $35,000)
  • University of Arkansas Fort Smith students graduate with a $11,868 lower median federal student loan debt than McPherson College graduates. ($14,132 vs. $26,000)
  • UAFS graduates are paying $122 less per month on federal student loans than McPherson College graduates. ($146 vs. $268)
  • More McPherson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAFS students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 47%)

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