University of Central Arkansas vs. NSU

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

University of Central Arkansas NSU
Location Conway, AR Norfolk, VA
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 9,790 6,045
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #842 #999
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uca.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Central Arkansas NSU
Tuition (In State) $7,140 $5,926
Tuition (Out of State) $14,280 $17,428
Room & Board $8,662 $11,692
Avg Net Price $16,362 $12,272
Avg Grant Aid $8,280 $11,153
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 97%

Admission

University of Central Arkansas NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,589 10,211
Admitted 5,961 8,931
Acceptance Rate 90.5% 87.5%
Enrolled % 29.1% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 2.9
Typical High School Grades A- B-
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 16/21
SAT Range 940/1120 840/1100
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 May 31, 2026

Academics

University of Central Arkansas NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (55%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Education (4%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (3%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

University of Central Arkansas NSU
Graduation Rate 40% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,800 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,415 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $221 $320

Diversity

University of Central Arkansas NSU
% Men 5% 3%
% Women 14% 5%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 66% 5%
% Black 18% 84%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

University of Central Arkansas NSU
% In-State 90% 65%
% Out-of-State 8% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Central Arkansas is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (9,790 students vs. 6,045 students)

University of Central Arkansas vs. NSU Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Central Arkansas is 20.5% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($7,140.00 vs. $5,926.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22% higher at NSU than University of Central Arkansas ($17,428.00 vs. $14,280.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than University of Central Arkansas ($12,272 vs. $16,362)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Arkansas are 35% lower than costs at Norfolk State University ($8,662 vs. $11,692)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Norfolk State University than University of Central Arkansas (97% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 34.7% larger than aid received University of Central Arkansas ($11,153 vs. $8,280)

University of Central Arkansas vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Central Arkansas (1068) is 260 points higher than at NSU (808)
  • Incoming University of Central Arkansas students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at NSU (17)
  • Accepted freshman University of Central Arkansas students have a 0.8 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at NSU (2.9)
  • University of Central Arkansas has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than NSU (87.5%)

University of Central Arkansas vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Central Arkansas or NSU? 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 NSU and University of Central Arkansas.

  • The graduation rate at University of Central Arkansas is higher than Norfolk State University (40% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from University of Central Arkansas earn on average $4,100 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($40,800 vs. $36,700)
  • University of Central Arkansas students graduate with a $9,585 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($21,415 vs. $31,000)
  • University of Central Arkansas graduates are paying $99 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($221 vs. $320)
  • More University of Central Arkansas graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 27%)

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