UALR vs. WKU

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

University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Western Kentucky University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UALR (58.8% admitted vs 93.9%). Typical SAT 1090 vs 950.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $12,033 at UALR vs $12,548 at WKU. WKU in-state tuition is about $1,904 more per year.
  • Graduation: UALR 21% vs WKU 50%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UALR $38,000 vs WKU $37,100 (median).
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Key differences

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Western Kentucky University
Acceptance rate
UALR more selective
UALR58.8%
WKU93.9%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UALR higher
UALR960-1210
WKU840-1050
Average net price
About even
UALR$12,033
WKU$12,548
In-state tuition
UALR $1,904 less
UALR$9,748
WKU$11,652
Out-of-state tuition
UALR $4,842 less
UALR$22,158
WKU$27,000
Graduation rate
WKU +29 pts
UALR21%
WKU50%
Median earnings (10 years)
UALR +$900
UALR$38,000
WKU$37,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UALR 4,335
  • WKU 9,840
  • Admitted
  • UALR 2,548
  • WKU 9,237
  • Acceptance rate
  • UALR 58.8%
  • WKU 93.9%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UALR 21.8%
  • WKU 30.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UALR 1090
  • WKU 950
  • Typical ACT score
  • UALR 20
  • WKU 18
  • Average high school GPA
  • UALR 3.42
  • WKU 3.42
  • Typical high school grades
  • UALR B+
  • WKU B+
  • Admissions standards
  • UALR Easy
  • WKU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • UALR Low
  • WKU
  • SAT range
  • UALR 960-1210
  • WKU 840-1050
  • ACT range
  • UALR 17-24
  • WKU 16-21
  • Submit test scores
  • UALR Required
  • WKU Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UALR Aug 17, 2027
  • WKU Aug 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UALR $9,748
  • WKU $11,652
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UALR $22,158
  • WKU $27,000
  • Room & board
  • UALR $10,760
  • WKU $12,582
  • Average net price
  • UALR $12,033
  • WKU $12,548
  • Average grant aid
  • UALR $11,013
  • WKU $10,921
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UALR 92%
  • WKU 99%
  • Graduation rate
  • UALR 21%
  • WKU 50%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UALR $38,000
  • WKU $37,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • UALR 51%
  • WKU 47%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UALR $20,500
  • WKU $24,250
  • Median loan payment
  • UALR $211
  • WKU $250
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UALR 13:1
  • WKU 19:1
  • Popular majors
  • UALR
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (6%)
  • WKU
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Location
  • UALR Little Rock, AR
  • WKU Bowling Green, KY
  • Setting
  • UALR Midsize City
  • WKU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UALR 8,216
  • WKU 16,291
  • Type
  • UALR Public 4 Year
  • WKU Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UALR #773
  • WKU #970

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas at Little Rock in Little Rock, AR with Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Western Kentucky University is larger than UALR based on total student enrollment (16,291 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); Western Kentucky University is in Bowling Green, KY (Small City setting).
  • University of Arkansas at Little Rock is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas at Little Rock 13:1; Western Kentucky University 19:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas at Little Rock are 14.5% lower than at Western Kentucky University ($10,760 vs. $12,582).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.9% higher at WKU than at University of Arkansas at Little Rock (about $4,842 more per year; $27,000 vs. $22,158).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Kentucky University than at University of Arkansas at Little Rock (99% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arkansas at Little Rock students is 0.8% larger than aid received by Western Kentucky University students ($11,013 vs. $10,921).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at UALR than at WKU (20 vs. 18, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are required at UALR, test optional at WKU.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UALR Aug 17, 2027; WKU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman UALR students have the same average high school GPA (3.42) as students at WKU (3.42).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.8% at UALR vs. 30.2% at WKU.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than WKU graduates ($20,500 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, UALR graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WKU graduates ($211 vs. $250).
  • More UALR graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation (51% vs. 47%).

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

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