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Compare University of Arkansas vs Arkansas State University

Fayetteville, AR · Jonesboro, AR

University of ArkansasArkansas State University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$18,209/yr$12,366/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$14,319/yr$10,098/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$21,500$20,500
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$14,322/yr$9,255/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$15,934/yr$12,205/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$20,772/yr$15,839/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$22,470/yr$16,444/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$228/mo$217/mo
Room & board (on campus)$14,244/yr$11,550/yr
Room & board (off campus)$14,244/yr$11,160/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,154/yr$1,250/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$5,928/yr$6,224/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$27,767/yr$25,082/yr
Tuition (in-state)$10,104/yr$8,090/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$29,966/yr$14,522/yr
Students with Pell Grants18%38%
Students taking federal loans33%42%
Getting in
Students who get accepted74%82%
SAT range (middle 50%)1030–1220970–1190
SAT average11691090
ACT range (middle 50%)21–2818–24
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 20–28 · Math 18–26English 17–25 · Math 16–23
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received28,1868,019
Students accepted20,2025,587
Students who enrolled6,3371,660
Accepted students who enroll31%30%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores28%3%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores77%86%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
Recommendation lettersNot consideredNot considered
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
College-prep programOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNot considered
Work experienceNot consideredNot considered
English proficiency testOptional (considered if sent)Required
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate71%55%
Freshmen who come back86%78%
Typical earnings 10 years in$58,191/yr$42,617/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$36,435–$87,469$26,452–$61,266
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)68%54%
White students graduating72%59%
Black students graduating46%37%
Hispanic students graduating65%51%
Asian students graduating76%80%
Typical earnings 6 years in$49,686/yr$38,944/yr
Earn more than a HS grad76%58%
Graduate on time56%41%
Pell students who graduate55%45%
First-gen students who finish52%39%
Low-income students who finish48%32%
Students who transfer outNo data reported23%
Typical earnings 8 years in$54,333/yr$40,605/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsBusiness, Management & Marketing 30% · Health Professions 10% · Engineering 7%Liberal Arts & General Studies 37% · Health Professions 19% · Business, Management & Marketing 11%
Most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 30% of degreesLiberal Arts & General Studies — 37% of degrees
2nd most popular programHealth Professions — 10% of degreesHealth Professions — 19% of degrees
3rd most popular programEngineering — 7% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 11% of degrees
4th most popular programCommunication & Journalism — 7% of degreesPsychology — 7% of degrees
5th most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 6% of degreesCommunication & Journalism — 4% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Business Administration, Management and Operations — $164,382/yrRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $117,929/yr
Degrees in STEM18%5.4%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment28,6779,110
Students per professor20 : 117 : 1
Graduate students4,7515,741
Average professor pay$10,657/mo$7,579/mo
Full-time professors82%100%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byHigher Learning CommissionHigher Learning Commission
Median family income$64,201$33,450
SettingCity (midsize)City (small)
LocationFayetteville, ARJonesboro, AR
RegionSoutheastSoutheast
Founded18711909
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral Universities: Very High Research ActivityDoctoral Universities: High Research Activity
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students1.1%10%
Men44%37%
Women56%63%
White students74%63%
Black students3.8%15%
Hispanic or Latino students12%5.3%
Asian students2.9%1%
Two or more races4.9%3.9%
Other / not reported1.5%1.2%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students26%39%
Part-time students8.3%39%
Students age 25+6.8%20%
Spent on teaching per student$10,926/yr$5,703/yr
Endowment$1.7B$115.4M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing6,9003,491
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$8,365/yrNo data reported
Meal plan charge$4,532/yrNo data reported
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per week15 meals/weekVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationLand-grant institutionNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesYes
ROTCYes — Army, Air ForceYes — Army
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesNoYes
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careYesYes
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesYesNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FBSNCAA Division I-FBS
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1512
Student athletes457412
Athletic scholarships$12.6M$7.4M
Athletics budget$189.0M$33.8M
Athletics revenue$195.9M$33.8M
Recruiting spend$3.4M$1.0M

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.