Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Lamar University University of Houston-Downtown SFASU Tarleton Texas State UNT TAMUK Texas A&M UH A&M Commerce UTSA Texas Tech| University of Central Arkansas | Sam Houston State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
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 |
|
|
||
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/