University of Central Arkansas vs. Tarleton

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

University of Central Arkansas Tarleton
Location Conway, AR Stephenville, TX
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 9,913 14,092
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #837 #871
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uca.edu tarleton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Central Arkansas Tarleton
Tuition (In State) $6,950 $4,416
Tuition (Out of State) $13,900 $14,208
Room & Board $8,250 $10,328
Avg Net Price $15,456 $13,755
Avg Grant Aid $8,177 $8,463
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 79%

Admission

University of Central Arkansas Tarleton
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,522 5,788
Admitted 5,949 5,039
Acceptance Rate 91.2% 87.1%
Enrolled % 30.3% 48.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.21
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 18/24
SAT Range 940/1130 950/1150
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 Tarleton
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (55%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Education (4%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (3%)
  • Business (20%)
  • General Studies (18%)
  • Agriculture (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

University of Central Arkansas Tarleton
Graduation Rate 40% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,800 $45,500
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,415 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $221 $204

Diversity

University of Central Arkansas Tarleton
% Men 36% 36%
% Women 64% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 66% 68%
% Black 18% 8%
% Hispanic 5% 18%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

University of Central Arkansas Tarleton
% In-State 90% 97%
% Out-of-State 8% 3%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Tarleton State University is larger than than University of Central Arkansas based on total student enrollment (14,092 students vs. 9,913 students)

University of Central Arkansas vs. Tarleton Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Central Arkansas is 57.4% more expensive to attend than Tarleton for in-state tuition ($6,950.00 vs. $4,416.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.2% higher at Tarleton than University of Central Arkansas ($14,208.00 vs. $13,900.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Tarleton State University than University of Central Arkansas ($13,755 vs. $15,456)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Arkansas are 25.2% lower than costs at Tarleton State University ($8,250 vs. $10,328)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Central Arkansas than Tarleton State University (97% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tarleton State University students is 3.5% larger than aid received University of Central Arkansas ($8,463 vs. $8,177)

University of Central Arkansas vs. Tarleton Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Central Arkansas (1068) is 109 points higher than at Tarleton (959)
  • Incoming University of Central Arkansas students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Tarleton (21)
  • Accepted freshman University of Central Arkansas students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Tarleton (3.21)
  • University of Central Arkansas has a higher acceptance rate (91.2%) than Tarleton (87.1%)

University of Central Arkansas vs. Tarleton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at University of Central Arkansas is higher than Tarleton State University (40% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Tarleton State University earn on average $4,700 more per year than University of Central Arkansas graduates after ten years. ($45,500 vs. $40,800)
  • Tarleton State University students graduate with a $1,665 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Central Arkansas graduates. ($19,750 vs. $21,415)
  • Tarleton graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than University of Central Arkansas graduates. ($204 vs. $221)
  • More University of Central Arkansas graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tarleton students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 56%)

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