UAFS vs. UW-La Crosse

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR with University of Wisconsin La Crosse in La Crosse, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin La Crosse is larger than UAFS based on total student enrollment (10,446 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 Wisconsin La Crosse is in La Crosse, WI (Small City setting).
• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1; University of Wisconsin La Crosse 20:1.

UAFS vs. UW-La Crosse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or UW-La Crosse? 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 UW-La Crosse ($11,159 vs. $14,712).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin La Crosse are 13.7% lower than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($8,702 vs. $10,082).
• University of Wisconsin La Crosse is 37.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $2,736 more per year; $10,070.00 vs. $7,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 60.2% higher at UW-La Crosse than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $7,335 more per year; $19,517.00 vs. $12,182.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than at University of Wisconsin La Crosse (95% vs. 44%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students is 71.5% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin La Crosse students ($7,715 vs. $4,499).

UAFS vs. UW-La Crosse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UAFS or UW-La Crosse? 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 UW-La Crosse and UAFS.

• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresUniversity of Wisconsin La Crosse 22/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAFS - Required; UW-La Crosse - Test optional.
• Enrolled freshman UW-La Crosse students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at UAFS (3.39).
• UAFS has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than UW-La Crosse (75.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.2% at UAFS vs. 43.2% at UW-La Crosse.

UAFS vs. UW-La Crosse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAFS and UW-La Crosse? 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.

• University of Wisconsin La Crosse's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith's (23%).
• Graduates from University of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of about $14,500 more per year than UAFS graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,500 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 UW-La Crosse graduates ($14,132 vs. $23,250).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $94 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UW-La Crosse graduates ($146 vs. $240).
• More UW-La Crosse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAFS students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.