UAFS vs. SCSU

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR with Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, CT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southern Connecticut State University is larger than UAFS based on total student enrollment (9,377 students vs. 5,496 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is located in Fort Smith, AR (Small City setting); Southern Connecticut State University is in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting).
• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern Connecticut State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1; Southern Connecticut State University 11:1.

UAFS vs. SCSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or SCSU? 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 SCSU ($11,159 vs. $19,827).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas Fort Smith are 32.5% lower than at Southern Connecticut State University ($10,082 vs. $14,938).
• Southern Connecticut State University is 83.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $6,104 more per year; $13,438.00 vs. $7,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 124.7% higher at SCSU than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $15,196 more per year; $27,378.00 vs. $12,182.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than at Southern Connecticut State University (95% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Connecticut State University students is 29.3% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students ($9,977 vs. $7,715).

UAFS vs. SCSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UAFS or SCSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SCSU and UAFS.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAFS - Required; SCSU - Test-free.
• Enrolled freshman UAFS students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at SCSU (3.2).
• SCSU has a higher acceptance rate (91.5%) than UAFS (80.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.2% at UAFS vs. 13.6% at SCSU.

UAFS vs. SCSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAFS and SCSU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Southern Connecticut State University's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith's (23%).
• Graduates from Southern Connecticut State University earn a median of about $10,800 more per year than UAFS graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,800 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $9,118 lower median loan debt than SCSU graduates ($14,132 vs. $23,250).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $94 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCSU graduates ($146 vs. $240).
• More SCSU 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.