UALR vs. KU

University of Arkansas at Little Rock and University of Kansas side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Kansas

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UALR (58.8% admitted vs 93.5%). Typical SAT 1090 vs 1190.
  • Cheaper after aid: UALR. Average net price is $12,033 vs $19,205 at KU.
  • Graduation: UALR 21% vs KU 61%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UALR $38,000 vs KU $54,600 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

University of Arkansas at Little Rock University of Kansas
Acceptance rate
UALR more selective
UALR58.8%
KU93.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
KU higher
UALR960-1210
KU1070-1300
Average net price
UALR $7,172 less
UALR$12,033
KU$19,205
In-state tuition
UALR $2,354 less
UALR$9,748
KU$12,102
Out-of-state tuition
UALR $8,274 less
UALR$22,158
KU$30,432
Graduation rate
KU +40 pts
UALR21%
KU61%
Median earnings (10 years)
KU +$16,600
UALR$38,000
KU$54,600

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at UALR and KU with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at UALR Check my chances at KU
  • Applied
  • UALR 4,335
  • KU 22,363
  • Admitted
  • UALR 2,548
  • KU 20,905
  • Acceptance rate
  • UALR 58.8%
  • KU 93.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UALR 21.8%
  • KU 25.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UALR 1090
  • KU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • UALR 20
  • KU 24
  • Average high school GPA
  • UALR 3.42
  • KU 3.66
  • Typical high school grades
  • UALR B+
  • KU A-
  • Admissions standards
  • UALR Easy
  • KU Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • UALR Low
  • KU
  • SAT range
  • UALR 960-1210
  • KU 1070-1300
  • ACT range
  • UALR 17-24
  • KU 20-28
  • Submit test scores
  • UALR Required
  • KU Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UALR Aug 17, 2027
  • KU Aug 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UALR $9,748
  • KU $12,102
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UALR $22,158
  • KU $30,432
  • Room & board
  • UALR $10,760
  • KU $11,358
  • Average net price
  • UALR $12,033
  • KU $19,205
  • Average grant aid
  • UALR $11,013
  • KU $11,541
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UALR 92%
  • KU 91%
  • Graduation rate
  • UALR 21%
  • KU 61%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UALR $38,000
  • KU $54,600
  • Making student loan payments
  • UALR 51%
  • KU 66%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UALR $20,500
  • KU $20,500
  • Median loan payment
  • UALR $211
  • KU $211
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UALR 13:1
  • KU 18:1
  • Popular majors
  • UALR
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (6%)
  • KU
    • Business (15%)
    • Communication (12%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Location
  • UALR Little Rock, AR
  • KU Lawrence, KS
  • Setting
  • UALR Midsize City
  • KU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UALR 8,216
  • KU 29,792
  • Type
  • UALR Public 4 Year
  • KU Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UALR #773
  • KU #317

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas at Little Rock in Little Rock, AR with University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of Kansas is larger than UALR based on total student enrollment (29,792 students vs. 8,216 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Arkansas at Little Rock is located in Little Rock, AR (Midsize City setting); University of Kansas is in Lawrence, KS (Small City setting).
  • University of Arkansas at Little Rock is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Kansas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas at Little Rock 13:1; University of Kansas 18:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas at Little Rock are 5.3% lower than at University of Kansas ($10,760 vs. $11,358).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 37.3% higher at KU than at University of Arkansas at Little Rock (about $8,274 more per year; $30,432 vs. $22,158).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas at Little Rock than at University of Kansas (92% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 4.8% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas at Little Rock students ($11,541 vs. $11,013).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at KU than at UALR (24 vs. 20, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are required at UALR, test optional at KU.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UALR Aug 17, 2027; KU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at KU average a 3.66 high school GPA, 0.24 higher than at UALR (3.42).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at UALR vs. 25.5% at KU.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kansas and UALR graduates have the same median loan debt ($20,500 vs. $20,500).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, University of Kansas and UALR graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($211 vs. $211).
  • More KU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UALR students, three years after graduation (66% vs. 51%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Kansas
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges