UAFS vs. UCO-Central

Comparable Facts

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

University of Central Oklahoma is larger than UAFS based on total student enrollment (12,554 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); University of Central Oklahoma is in Edmond, OK (Large Suburban setting).
• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Central Oklahoma is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1; University of Central Oklahoma 18:1.

UAFS vs. UCO-Central Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or UCO-Central? 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 UCO-Central ($11,159 vs. $18,660).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Oklahoma are 3.8% lower than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($9,700 vs. $10,082).
• University of Central Oklahoma is 20.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $1,484 more per year; $8,818.00 vs. $7,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 61.7% higher at UCO-Central than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $7,522 more per year; $19,704.00 vs. $12,182.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than at University of Central Oklahoma (95% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students is 7.9% larger than aid received by University of Central Oklahoma students ($7,715 vs. $7,152).

UAFS vs. UCO-Central Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UAFS or UCO-Central? 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 UCO-Central and UAFS.

• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Central Oklahoma 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAFS - Required; UCO-Central - Required.
• Accepted freshman UCO-Central students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at UAFS (3.39).
• UAFS has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than UCO-Central (78.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.2% at UAFS vs. 42.9% at UCO-Central.

UAFS vs. UCO-Central Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAFS and UCO-Central? 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 Central Oklahoma's six-year graduation rate (36%) is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith's (23%).
• Graduates from University of Central Oklahoma earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than UAFS graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,600 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $6,261 lower median loan debt than UCO-Central graduates ($14,132 vs. $20,393).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCO-Central graduates ($146 vs. $210).
• More UCO-Central graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAFS students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.