University of Central Arkansas vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate

Deciding between University of Central Arkansas and University of South Carolina Upstate? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Central Arkansas

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Spartanburg, SC
  • Setting
  • University of Central Arkansas Distant Town
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Central Arkansas 10,112
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 4,916
  • Type
  • University of Central Arkansas Public 4 Year
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Central Arkansas #826
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate #696
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Central Arkansas -
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate -
  • Status
  • University of Central Arkansas Non-profit
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Central Arkansas
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Central Arkansas $10,523
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate $11,588
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Central Arkansas $18,023
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate $23,090
  • Room & Board
  • University of Central Arkansas $9,110
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate $10,533
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Central Arkansas $16,546
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate $13,999
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Central Arkansas $8,901
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate $10,719
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Central Arkansas 95%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 97%

  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of Central Arkansas Calculate
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of Central Arkansas 7,039
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 4,682
  • Admitted
  • University of Central Arkansas 6,299
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 3,149
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Central Arkansas 89.5%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 67.3%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Central Arkansas 34.6%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 24%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Central Arkansas 1040
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 1090
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Central Arkansas 22
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Central Arkansas 3.7
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 2.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Central Arkansas A-
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate B-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Central Arkansas Easy
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Central Arkansas
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Low
  • ACT Range
  • University of Central Arkansas 19/25
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 21/26
  • SAT Range
  • University of Central Arkansas 910/1170
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 1005/1175
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Central Arkansas Test optional
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Central Arkansas
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Central Arkansas 15:1
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Central Arkansas
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (55%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Education (4%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (3%)
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Education (20%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Central Arkansas 40%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Central Arkansas $40,800
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate $39,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Central Arkansas 57%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 55%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Central Arkansas $21,415
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Central Arkansas $221
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate $232

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Central Arkansas 36%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 33%
  • % Women
  • University of Central Arkansas 64%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Central Arkansas Medium
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate High
  • HBCU
  • University of Central Arkansas No
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate No
  • % White
  • University of Central Arkansas 66%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 56%
  • % Asian
  • University of Central Arkansas 2%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 3%
  • % Black
  • University of Central Arkansas 18%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 29%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Central Arkansas 5%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 5%
  • % Native American
  • University of Central Arkansas 1%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Central Arkansas 0%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Central Arkansas 4%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 4%
  • % International
  • University of Central Arkansas 4%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Central Arkansas 1%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Central Arkansas 91%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 92%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Central Arkansas 7%
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate 5%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • University of Central Arkansas Yes
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • University of Central Arkansas No
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate No
  • Meal Plan
  • University of Central Arkansas Yes
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • University of Central Arkansas No
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate No
  • Daycare Facility
  • University of Central Arkansas No
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Yes
  • Learn More
  • University of Central Arkansas Details
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate Details

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR with University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Central Arkansas is larger than University of South Carolina-Upstate based on total student enrollment (10,112 students vs. 4,916 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Central Arkansas is located in Conway, AR (Distant Town setting); University of South Carolina Upstate is in Spartanburg, SC (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Central Arkansas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Carolina Upstate is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Central Arkansas 15:1; University of South Carolina Upstate 15:1.

University of Central Arkansas vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Central Arkansas or University of South Carolina-Upstate? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Upstate than University of Central Arkansas ($13,999 vs. $16,546).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Arkansas are 13.5% lower than at University of South Carolina Upstate ($9,110 vs. $10,533).
  • University of South Carolina Upstate is 10.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Central Arkansas (about $1,065 more per year; $11,588.00 vs. $10,523.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 28.1% higher at University of South Carolina-Upstate than at University of Central Arkansas (about $5,067 more per year; $23,090.00 vs. $18,023.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of South Carolina Upstate than at University of Central Arkansas (97% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Carolina Upstate students is 20.4% larger than aid received by University of Central Arkansas students ($10,719 vs. $8,901).

University of Central Arkansas vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Central Arkansas or University of South Carolina-Upstate? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between University of South Carolina-Upstate and University of Central Arkansas.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of South Carolina Upstate (1090) is 50 points higher than at University of Central Arkansas (1040).
  • Incoming University of South Carolina-Upstate students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 22 at University of Central Arkansas).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Central Arkansas 910/1170; University of South Carolina Upstate 1005/1175.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Central Arkansas 19/25; University of South Carolina Upstate 21/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Central Arkansas - Test optional; University of South Carolina-Upstate - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman University of Central Arkansas students have a 1.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at University of South Carolina-Upstate (2.53).
  • University of Central Arkansas has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than University of South Carolina-Upstate (67.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 34.6% at University of Central Arkansas vs. 24% at University of South Carolina-Upstate.

University of Central Arkansas vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Central Arkansas and University of South Carolina-Upstate? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Central Arkansas's six-year graduation rate (40%) is higher than University of South Carolina Upstate's (39%).
  • Graduates from University of Central Arkansas earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $39,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Central Arkansas graduates have a $1,085 lower median loan debt than University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates ($21,415 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, University of Central Arkansas graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates ($221 vs. $232).
  • More University of Central Arkansas graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of South Carolina-Upstate students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 55%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.