University of Central Arkansas vs. SHSU

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

University of Central Arkansas SHSU
Location Conway, AR Huntsville, TX
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 9,913 21,480
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #837 #778
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uca.edu shsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Central Arkansas SHSU
Tuition (In State) $6,950 $5,856
Tuition (Out of State) $13,900 $15,648
Room & Board $8,250 $10,908
Avg Net Price $15,456 $13,632
Avg Grant Aid $8,177 $10,499
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 73%

Admission

University of Central Arkansas SHSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,522 16,316
Admitted 5,949 13,809
Acceptance Rate 91.2% 84.6%
Enrolled % 30.3% 24.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.25
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 18/24
SAT Range 940/1130 960/1140
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

University of Central Arkansas SHSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (55%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Education (4%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (3%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

University of Central Arkansas SHSU
Graduation Rate 40% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,800 $47,800
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,415 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $221 $222

Diversity

University of Central Arkansas SHSU
% Men 36% 36%
% Women 64% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 66% 53%
% Black 18% 19%
% Hispanic 5% 20%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

University of Central Arkansas SHSU
% In-State 90% 98%
% Out-of-State 8% 1%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Sam Houston State University is larger than than University of Central Arkansas based on total student enrollment (21,480 students vs. 9,913 students)

University of Central Arkansas vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Central Arkansas is 18.7% more expensive to attend than SHSU for in-state tuition ($6,950.00 vs. $5,856.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.6% higher at SHSU than University of Central Arkansas ($15,648.00 vs. $13,900.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sam Houston State University than University of Central Arkansas ($13,632 vs. $15,456)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Arkansas are 32.2% lower than costs at Sam Houston State University ($8,250 vs. $10,908)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Central Arkansas than Sam Houston State University (97% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sam Houston State University students is 28.4% larger than aid received University of Central Arkansas ($10,499 vs. $8,177)

University of Central Arkansas vs. SHSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Central Arkansas (1068) is 71 points higher than at SHSU (997)
  • Incoming University of Central Arkansas students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at SHSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman University of Central Arkansas students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at SHSU (3.25)
  • University of Central Arkansas has a higher acceptance rate (91.2%) than SHSU (84.6%)

University of Central Arkansas vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at SHSU is higher than University of Central Arkansas (50% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn on average $7,000 more per year than University of Central Arkansas graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $40,800)
  • University of Central Arkansas students graduate with a $85 lower median federal student loan debt than SHSU graduates. ($21,415 vs. $21,500)
  • University of Central Arkansas graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than SHSU graduates. ($221 vs. $222)
  • More University of Central Arkansas graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SHSU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 57%)

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