University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Fort Smith, Arkansas. It enrolls 4,091 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
67/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes22
Value82
Affordability78
Selectivity29
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 80.5%, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
80.5%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 23
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyRequiredSAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of Arkansas-Fort Smith isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $10,574 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$10,574
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
39%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
26%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$7,334
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$12,182
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,082
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,111
Books & Supplies
$1,416
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,476
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,476
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,048
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,890
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,391
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,392
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,804
Over $110,000
$14,297
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,99310%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$18,250Medianpercentile
$16,07875%percentile
$28,33290%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $11,250
↓ $7,000
No Pell $8,750
↓ $9,500
Dependent students $9,000
↓ $9,250
Independent students $15,750
↓ $2,500
Female students $11,000
↓ $7,250
Male students $10,000
↓ $8,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,484, less than completers ($18,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
33% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
33%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Arkansas-Fort Smith earn a median of $41,102 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$41,102
Earning > $25K
68%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$30,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$41,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$30,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$38,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$43,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,200, about 27% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↑
3.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 69% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is home to 4,091 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 48% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
4,091
Part-Time
22%
First-Generation
48%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 56.3%2,304
Hispanic 20.0%820
Other 12.8%525
Asian 5.3%218
Black 4.2%172
International 1.3%52
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityFort Smith, Arkansas
Housing
Partly residential918 beds available
Adult Learners
16%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
51 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is 20:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,232
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$110M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$64,845
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
205 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
37
18%
$78,847
Associate Professors
40
20%
$69,322
Assistant Professors
59
29%
$62,751
Instructors
69
34%
$56,532
Pros & Cons of University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Arkansas-Fort Smith tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith hard to get into?
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 80.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith?
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith has an acceptance rate of 80.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for University of Arkansas-Fort Smith?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith scored between 18 and 23 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does University of Arkansas-Fort Smith cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is $10,574 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $41,102 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,574 per year. That's roughly 3.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith known for?
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Arkansas-Fort Smith graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Arkansas-Fort Smith are $41,102, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith accredited?
Yes. University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend University of Arkansas-Fort Smith?
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith enrolls 4,091 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith?
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith graduates 33% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith a public or private college?
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is a Public institution.
Where is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith located?
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is located in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
What programs does University of Arkansas-Fort Smith offer?
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith offers 51 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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