University of Central Arkansas vs. Henderson State University

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

University of Central Arkansas Henderson State University
Location Conway, AR Arkadelphia, AR
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 9,913 2,519
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #837 #976
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uca.edu hsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Central Arkansas Henderson State University
Tuition (In State) $6,950 $5,880
Tuition (Out of State) $13,900 $8,088
Room & Board $8,250 $9,558
Avg Net Price $15,456 $17,656
Avg Grant Aid $8,177 $9,580
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 90%

Admission

University of Central Arkansas Henderson State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,522 2,345
Admitted 5,949 1,657
Acceptance Rate 91.2% 70.7%
Enrolled % 30.3% 24.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.23
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25 16/21
SAT Range 940/1130 903/1073
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025

Academics

University of Central Arkansas Henderson State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (55%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Education (4%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (3%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

University of Central Arkansas Henderson State University
Graduation Rate 40% 31%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,800 $38,400
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 48%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,415 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $221 $201

Diversity

University of Central Arkansas Henderson State University
% Men 36% 40%
% Women 64% 60%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 66% 66%
% Black 18% 24%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

University of Central Arkansas Henderson State University
% In-State 90% 81%
% Out-of-State 8% 19%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Central Arkansas is larger than than Henderson State University based on total student enrollment (9,913 students vs. 2,519 students)

University of Central Arkansas vs. Henderson State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Central Arkansas or Henderson State University?

  • University of Central Arkansas is 18.2% more expensive to attend than Henderson State University for in-state tuition ($6,950.00 vs. $5,880.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 71.9% higher at University of Central Arkansas than Henderson State University ($13,900.00 vs. $8,088.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Central Arkansas than Henderson State University ($15,456 vs. $17,656)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Arkansas are 15.9% lower than costs at Henderson State University ($8,250 vs. $9,558)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Central Arkansas than Henderson State University (97% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Henderson State University students is 17.2% larger than aid received University of Central Arkansas ($9,580 vs. $8,177)

University of Central Arkansas vs. Henderson State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Central Arkansas (1068) is 80 points higher than at Henderson State University (988)
  • Incoming University of Central Arkansas students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Henderson State University (21)
  • Accepted freshman University of Central Arkansas students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Henderson State University (3.23)
  • University of Central Arkansas has a higher acceptance rate (91.2%) than Henderson State University (70.7%)

University of Central Arkansas vs. Henderson State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Central Arkansas or Henderson State 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 Henderson State University and University of Central Arkansas.

  • The graduation rate at University of Central Arkansas is higher than Henderson State University (40% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from University of Central Arkansas earn on average $2,400 more per year than Henderson State University graduates after ten years. ($40,800 vs. $38,400)
  • Henderson State University students graduate with a $1,915 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Central Arkansas graduates. ($19,500 vs. $21,415)
  • Henderson State University graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than University of Central Arkansas graduates. ($201 vs. $221)
  • More University of Central Arkansas graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Henderson State University students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 48%)

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