UAFS vs. Messenger College

Comparable Facts

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

University of Arkansas Fort Smith is larger than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (5,496 students vs. 24 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is located in Fort Smith, AR (Small City setting); Messenger College is in Bedford, TX (Small City setting).
• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Messenger College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1; Messenger College 8:1.

UAFS vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or Messenger 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 Messenger College ($11,159 vs. $25,941).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas Fort Smith are 24.2% lower than at Messenger College ($10,082 vs. $13,305).
• Messenger College is 58.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $4,286 more per year; $11,620.00 vs. $7,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at UAFS than at Messenger College (about $562 more per year; $12,182.00 vs. $11,620.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than at Messenger College (95% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students is 95.8% larger than aid received by Messenger College students ($7,715 vs. $3,940).

UAFS vs. Messenger College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAFS - Required; Messenger College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Messenger College Jul 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UAFS students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Messenger College (2.9).
• UAFS has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than Messenger College (37.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.2% at UAFS vs. 66.7% at Messenger College.

UAFS vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAFS and Messenger 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).

• University of Arkansas Fort Smith's six-year graduation rate (23%) is higher than Messenger College's (10%).
• Graduates from University of Arkansas Fort Smith earn a median of about $11,000 more per year than Messenger College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,000 vs. $24,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More UAFS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messenger College students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 40%)

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.