University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
#7 Best HBCUs for Visual- Graduation Rate
- 40% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $35,550 D+
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $12,653 B-
- 26% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 41% A-
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.4 over 20 years. Ranked #7 in Best HBCUs for Visual.
Every $1 spent returns $16.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $779,180.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 40% — 30% below the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 2.83% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $16.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Matters
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a public college in Pine Bluff, AR and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 1,807
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- HBCU
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Humanities, Health Professions
Why students choose University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 41% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 845–1108. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,653 a year after grants and scholarships — 26% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $35,550 ten years after enrolling — 13% below the typical college, against $24,202 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 13% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.98 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Seventy percent of students at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff receive Pell Grants, highlighting the institution's commitment to serving low-income populations. This significant percentage reflects the university's role in providing access to higher education for many who might not otherwise attend.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data is not available for this school, making it difficult to assess mobility and long-term outcomes. However, with a graduation rate of 40%, it is essential for prospective students to consider the challenges that may affect completion. Students from lower-income backgrounds may find support through financial aid and targeted resources.
The net price for attending the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is $12,653, with a median debt of $24,202 for graduates. Alumni earn an average of $35,550 within ten years of graduation. Students who thrive here often pursue degrees in humanities, business, biology, education, or criminal justice, aligning with their career goals and interests.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 41%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 922. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 41%
- Retention Rate
- 64%
- SAT Average
- 922
- ACT Midpoint
- 16
- SAT Range
- 845–1108
- ACT Range
- 14–18
- Full-Time Faculty
- 82%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,201
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.20
- First-Gen Students
- 37%
- Applicants
- 4,183
- Admitted
- 2,900
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is $17,992, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,653. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,302 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,202 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $9,412
- Out-of-State
- $17,992
- Avg Net Price
- $12,653
- Median Debt
- $24,202
- Pell Grant Rate
- 70%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 58%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,302
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,324
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $15,920
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,840
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff report median earnings of $35,550, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,161
- 8 Years
- $33,831
- 10 Years
- $35,550
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.68x
- Earning > $25K
- 38%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (115)
- 24%
- 100% (115)
- 24%
- 100% (115)
- 24%
- 100% (115)
- 24%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,653/year ($50,612 total). Graduates earn $35,550 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $829,792 in total earnings — a net gain of $779,180 (16.4× your investment). The median debt is $24,202, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 40% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $50,612
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $829,792
- Net Return
- $779,180
- ROI Multiple
- 16.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,653
- Median Debt
- $24,202
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 40%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.83%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 32.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $35,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.83%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 8.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 32.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $35,400
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $7,385,811
Top Programs
The fields University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Business & Marketing 10%
- Biology & Biomedical 9%
- Humanities 9%
- Health Professions 8%
- Education 8%
- Criminal Justice 7%
- Psychology 6%
- Computer Science & IT 6%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 41%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 922. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is $17,992, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,653. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,302 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,202 in federal student loans.
Is University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff report median earnings of $35,550, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.83%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 32.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $35,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Its economic connectedness score is 0.98, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
- Alcorn State UniversityAlcorn State, MS · Close peer51% grad $36,421 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Point UniversityWest Point, GA · Close peer38% grad $38,740 earn 44% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Puerto Rico-CarolinaCarolina, PR · Close peer39% grad $30,626 earn 55% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- University of West AlabamaLivingston, AL · Close peer36% grad $44,232 earn 43% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Fort Valley State UniversityFort Valley, GA · Close peer43% grad $36,666 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Puerto RicoBayamon, PR · Close peer34% grad $34,409 earn 35% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Its economic connectedness score is 0.98, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.06), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 2% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note