Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Arkansas Minnesota State University-Mankato ATU KU Henderson State University UALR Arkansas State University Winona State University Southern Arkansas University Main Campus UAPB Lamar University OBU| University of Central Arkansas | Southwest Minnesota State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
University of Central Arkansas | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
| Location | Conway, AR | Marshall, MN | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 9,790 | 7,324 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #842 | #910 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uca.edu | smsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
University of Central Arkansas | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,140 | $8,840 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $14,280 | $8,840 | ||
| Room & Board | $8,662 | $10,666 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,362 | $14,839 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,280 | $7,455 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 91% |
Admission |
University of Central Arkansas | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,589 | 2,630 | ||
| Admitted | 5,961 | 1,813 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 90.5% | 68.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 29.1% | 20.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.21 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 17/23 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1120 | 935/1102 | ||
| 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 18, 2026 |
Academics |
University of Central Arkansas | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
University of Central Arkansas | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 40% | 39% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,800 | $41,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 57% | 66% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,415 | $21,678 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $221 | $224 |
Diversity |
University of Central Arkansas | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 4% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 66% | 80% | ||
| % Black | 18% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
University of Central Arkansas | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 20% | ||
Campus |
University of Central Arkansas | Southwest Minnesota State University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Central Arkansas is larger than than Southwest Minnesota State University based on total student enrollment (9,790 students vs. 7,324 students)
University of Central Arkansas vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, University of Central Arkansas or Southwest Minnesota State University?
- Southwest Minnesota State University is 23.8% more expensive to attend than University of Central Arkansas for in-state tuition ($8,840.00 vs. $7,140.00)
- Out of state tuition is 61.5% higher at University of Central Arkansas than Southwest Minnesota State University ($14,280.00 vs. $8,840.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwest Minnesota State University than University of Central Arkansas ($14,839 vs. $16,362)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Arkansas are 23.1% lower than costs at Southwest Minnesota State University ($8,662 vs. $10,666)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Central Arkansas than Southwest Minnesota State University (93% vs. 91%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Central Arkansas students is 11.1% larger than aid received Southwest Minnesota State University ($8,280 vs. $7,455)
University of Central Arkansas vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, University of Central Arkansas or Southwest Minnesota State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Southwest Minnesota State University or University of Central Arkansas .
- The average SAT score at University of Central Arkansas (1068) is 60 points higher than at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008)
- Incoming University of Central Arkansas students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (22)
- Accepted freshman University of Central Arkansas students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
- University of Central Arkansas has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than Southwest Minnesota State University (68.9%)
University of Central Arkansas vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, University of Central Arkansas or Southwest Minnesota 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 Southwest Minnesota State University and University of Central Arkansas.
- The graduation rate at University of Central Arkansas is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (40% vs. 39%)
- Graduates from Southwest Minnesota State University earn on average $400 more per year than University of Central Arkansas graduates after ten years. ($41,200 vs. $40,800)
- University of Central Arkansas students graduate with a $263 lower median federal student loan debt than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($21,415 vs. $21,678)
- University of Central Arkansas graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates. ($221 vs. $224)
- More Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Central Arkansas students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 57%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/