UAFS vs. UW-Eau Claire

Should I go to University of Arkansas Fort Smith or University of Wisconsin Eau Claire? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UAFS or UW-Eau Claire 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

UW-La Crosse UW-Stout University of Wisconsin-Whitewater UWM University of Wisconsin-River Falls Wisconsin UWO ATU Minnesota State University-Mankato UW-Green Bay University of Minnesota-Duluth Winona State University
University of Arkansas Fort Smith vs. University of Wisconsin Eau Claire comparison
University of Arkansas Fort Smith University of Wisconsin Eau Claire College 3 College 4
University of Wisconsin Eau Claire
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 UAFS UW-Eau Claire
Location Fort Smith, AR Eau Claire, WI
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 5,506 9,991
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #563
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uafortsmith.edu uwec.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UAFS UW-Eau Claire
Tuition (In State) $4,512 $7,645
Tuition (Out of State) $11,376 $16,884
Room & Board $9,799 $9,200
Avg Net Price $10,387 $15,323
Avg Grant Aid $7,827 $3,800
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 60%

Admission

 UAFS UW-Eau Claire
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,677 10,315
Admitted 2,181 7,848
Acceptance Rate 81.5% 76.1%
Enrolled % 40.6% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.59
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/26
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

 UAFS UW-Eau Claire
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Precision Production Trades (10%)
  • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (10%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 UAFS UW-Eau Claire
Graduation Rate 23% 65%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,000 $47,900
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,132 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $146 $240

Diversity

 UAFS UW-Eau Claire
% Men 0% 3%
% Women 1% 4%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 70% 89%
% Black 4% 1%
% Hispanic 11% 2%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 2%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

 UAFS UW-Eau Claire
% In-State 86% 67%
% Out-of-State 13% 32%

Campus

 UAFS UW-Eau Claire
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is larger than than UAFS based on total student enrollment (9,991 students vs. 5,506 students)

UAFS vs. UW-Eau Claire Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or UW-Eau Claire?

  • University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is 69.4% more expensive to attend than UAFS for in-state tuition ($7,645.00 vs. $4,512.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 48.4% higher at UW-Eau Claire than University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($16,884.00 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 UW-Eau Claire ($10,387 vs. $15,323)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire are 6.5% lower than costs at University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($9,200 vs. $9,799)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than University of Wisconsin Eau Claire (99% vs. 60%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students is 106% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Eau Claire ($7,827 vs. $3,800)

UAFS vs. UW-Eau Claire Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman UW-Eau Claire students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at UAFS (3.39)
  • UAFS has a higher acceptance rate (81.5%) than UW-Eau Claire (76.1%)

UAFS vs. UW-Eau Claire Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UAFS or UW-Eau Claire? 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 UW-Eau Claire and UAFS.

  • The graduation rate at UW-Eau Claire is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith (65% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn on average $12,900 more per year than UAFS graduates after ten years. ($47,900 vs. $35,000)
  • University of Arkansas Fort Smith students graduate with a $9,118 lower median federal student loan debt than UW-Eau Claire graduates. ($14,132 vs. $23,250)
  • UAFS graduates are paying $94 less per month on federal student loans than UW-Eau Claire graduates. ($146 vs. $240)
  • More UW-Eau Claire graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAFS students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 47%)

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