UAFS vs. SC

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

 UAFS SC
Location Fort Smith, AR Sterling, KS
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 5,379 706
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uafortsmith.edu sterling.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UAFS SC
Tuition (In State) $4,104 $28,500
Tuition (Out of State) $11,376 $28,500
Room & Board $9,645 $9,336
Avg Net Price $10,705 $22,680
Avg Grant Aid $8,283 $19,729
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 UAFS SC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 1,959
Admitted - 1,197
Acceptance Rate 61.1%
Enrolled % 13.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.46
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 938/1123
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 17, 2025

Academics

 UAFS SC
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Precision Production Trades (10%)
  • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (10%)
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 UAFS SC
Graduation Rate 23% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,000 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,132 $24,663
Median Loan Payment $146 $255

Diversity

 UAFS SC
% Men 40% 59%
% Women 60% 41%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 70% 68%
% Black 4% 11%
% Hispanic 11% 15%
% Native American 2% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 0%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

 UAFS SC
% In-State 87% 37%
% Out-of-State 12% 53%

Campus

 UAFS SC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Arkansas Fort Smith is larger than than SC based on total student enrollment (5,379 students vs. 706 students)

UAFS vs. SC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or SC?

  • Sterling College is 594.4% more expensive to attend than UAFS for in-state tuition ($28,500.00 vs. $4,104.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 150.5% higher at SC than University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($28,500.00 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 SC ($10,705 vs. $22,680)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 3.3% lower than costs at University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($9,336 vs. $9,645)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith as Sterling College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 138.2% larger than aid received University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($19,729 vs. $8,283)

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

  • Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at UAFS (3.39)

UAFS vs. SC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UAFS or SC? 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 SC and UAFS.

  • The graduation rate at SC is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith (48% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from Sterling College earn on average $2,400 more per year than UAFS graduates after ten years. ($37,400 vs. $35,000)
  • University of Arkansas Fort Smith students graduate with a $10,531 lower median federal student loan debt than SC graduates. ($14,132 vs. $24,663)
  • UAFS graduates are paying $109 less per month on federal student loans than SC graduates. ($146 vs. $255)
  • More SC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAFS students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 47%)

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