Arkansas vs. Friends University

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

Arkansas Friends University
Location Fayetteville, AR Wichita, KS
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 30,936 1,724
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #458 #723
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uark.edu friends.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Arkansas Friends University
Tuition (In State) $7,666 $31,172
Tuition (Out of State) $25,420 $31,172
Room & Board $12,368 $8,326
Avg Net Price $16,208 $23,720
Avg Grant Aid $8,474 $19,570
% Receiving Grant Aid 60% 100%

Admission

Arkansas Friends University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 26,219 1,620
Admitted 20,695 1,025
Acceptance Rate 78.9% 63.3%
Enrolled % 34.3% 25.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.4
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Average Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 19/26
SAT Range 1030/1220 950/1181
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Arkansas Friends University
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (62%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (4%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)

Outcomes

Arkansas Friends University
Graduation Rate 59% 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,400 $46,500
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $24,512
Median Loan Payment $222 $253

Diversity

Arkansas Friends University
% Men 44% 42%
% Women 56% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 77% 68%
% Black 5% 11%
% Hispanic 8% 5%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 8%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 5%

Students

Arkansas Friends University
% In-State 39% 46%
% Out-of-State 60% 50%

Campus

Arkansas Friends University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Arkansas is larger than than Friends University based on total student enrollment (30,936 students vs. 1,724 students)

Arkansas vs. Friends University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arkansas or Friends University?

  • Friends University is 306.6% more expensive to attend than Arkansas for in-state tuition ($31,172.00 vs. $7,666.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22.6% higher at Friends University than University of Arkansas ($31,172.00 vs. $25,420.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Arkansas than Friends University ($16,208 vs. $23,720)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Friends University are 48.5% lower than costs at University of Arkansas ($8,326 vs. $12,368)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Friends University than University of Arkansas (100% vs. 60%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Friends University students is 130.9% larger than aid received University of Arkansas ($19,570 vs. $8,474)

Arkansas vs. Friends University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Arkansas (1154) is 140 points higher than at Friends University (1014)
  • Incoming Arkansas students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Friends University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Arkansas students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Friends University (3.4)
  • Arkansas has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than Friends University (63.3%)

Arkansas vs. Friends University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Arkansas or Friends University? 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 Friends University and Arkansas.

  • The graduation rate at Arkansas is higher than Friends University (59% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from University of Arkansas earn on average $3,900 more per year than Friends University graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $46,500)
  • University of Arkansas students graduate with a $3,012 lower median federal student loan debt than Friends University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,512)
  • Arkansas graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Friends University graduates. ($222 vs. $253)
  • More Arkansas graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Friends University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 54%)

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