University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
- Graduation Rate
- 37% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $41,102 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $10,574 B
- 38% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 80% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 22.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $22.8 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $22.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $920,743.
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 37% — 35% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $22.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Matters
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is a public community college in Fort Smith, AR and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 4,091
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education
Why students choose University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
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
Accessible — admits about 80% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $10,574 a year after grants and scholarships — 38% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $41,102 ten years after enrolling — 1% above the typical college, against $18,250 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.16 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith enrolls 4,091 students, with an acceptance rate of 80%. This makes it accessible for many who seek higher education without facing steep admission hurdles. The university's focus on practical programs like Business, Humanities, and Health Professions aligns with workforce demands, offering students a path to viable careers.
Data from Opportunity Insights highlights that graduates from the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith earn a median salary of $41,102 ten years after enrollment. While graduation rates sit at 37%, the financial outcomes suggest that there is potential for upward mobility for those who complete their degrees. The university’s commitment to key areas of study supports students in achieving better economic outcomes over time.
In terms of affordability, the net price for attending the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is $10,574, with a median debt of $18,250 after graduation. A significant 39% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating that financial aid plays a crucial role in the student experience. Students thrive in practical programs that prepare them for the job market, especially those who are motivated and ready to engage with their studies.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Arkansas-Fort Smith 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-Fort Smith? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 80%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,050. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Retention Rate
- 70%
- SAT Average
- 1050
- ACT Range
- 18–23
- Full-Time Faculty
- 60%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,331
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.63
- First-Gen Students
- 48%
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-Fort Smith? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is $12,182, 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 $10,574. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,890 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,250 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,334
- Out-of-State
- $12,182
- Avg Net Price
- $10,574
- Median Debt
- $18,250
- Pell Grant Rate
- 39%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 26%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,890
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,391
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,392
- Family Income $110K+
- $14,297
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Arkansas-Fort Smith report median earnings of $41,102, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,925
- 8 Years
- $37,858
- 10 Years
- $41,102
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.44x
- Earning > $25K
- 56%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (154)
- 20%
- 100% (154)
- 20%
- 100% (154)
- 20%
- 100% (154)
- 20%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,574/year ($42,296 total). Graduates earn $41,102 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $963,039 in total earnings — a net gain of $920,743 (22.8× your investment). The median debt is $18,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 37% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $42,296
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $963,039
- Net Return
- $920,743
- ROI Multiple
- 22.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,574
- Median Debt
- $18,250
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,075,148
- Investment Income
- $-212,950
Top Programs
The fields University of Arkansas-Fort Smith awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 36% $24,743 early-career
- Business & Marketing 15% $38,107 early-career
- Health Professions 10% $73,289 early-career
- Education 9% $42,081 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 5%
- Precision Production 5%
- Engineering 2%
- Biology & Biomedical 2% $28,361 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of Arkansas-Fort Smith'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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Arkansas-Fort Smith? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 80%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,050. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Arkansas-Fort Smith? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is $12,182, 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 $10,574. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,890 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,250 in federal student loans.
Is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Arkansas-Fort Smith report median earnings of $41,102, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. Its economic connectedness score is 1.16, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.
- Indiana University-South BendSouth Bend, IN · Close peer38% grad $44,947 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Morehead State UniversityMorehead, KY · Close peer50% grad $43,197 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Fayetteville State UniversityFayetteville, NC · Close peer37% grad $40,144 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Winston-Salem State UniversityWinston-Salem, NC · Close peer48% grad $45,344 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Lander UniversityGreenwood, SC · Close peer49% grad $42,396 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of South Carolina AikenAiken, SC · Close peer40% grad $45,603 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. Its economic connectedness score is 1.16, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note