UAFS vs. SCU

Comparable Facts

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

University of Arkansas Fort Smith is larger than SCU based on total student enrollment (5,496 students vs. 399 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is located in Fort Smith, AR (Small City setting); Southwestern Christian University is in Bethany, OK (Large Suburban setting).
• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southwestern Christian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1; Southwestern Christian University 13:1.

UAFS vs. SCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or SCU? 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 SCU ($11,159 vs. $20,528).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas Fort Smith are 0.2% lower than at Southwestern Christian University ($10,082 vs. $10,100).
• Southwestern Christian University is 198.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $14,566 more per year; $21,900.00 vs. $7,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 79.8% higher at SCU than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $9,718 more per year; $21,900.00 vs. $12,182.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Christian University than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Christian University students is 65.7% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students ($12,784 vs. $7,715).

UAFS vs. SCU Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAFS - Required; SCU - Not reported.
• Accepted freshman UAFS students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at SCU (3.22).

UAFS vs. SCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAFS and SCU? 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).

• Southwestern Christian University's six-year graduation rate (28%) is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith's (23%).
• Graduates from University of Arkansas Fort Smith earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than SCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,000 vs. $27,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $12,868 lower median loan debt than SCU graduates ($14,132 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $133 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCU graduates ($146 vs. $279).
• More UAFS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 38%)

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.