UAFS vs. Baylor

Deciding between University of Arkansas Fort Smith and Baylor University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Baylor University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UAFS Fort Smith, AR
  • Baylor Waco, TX
  • Setting
  • UAFS Small City
  • Baylor Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UAFS 5,496
  • Baylor 20,626
  • Type
  • UAFS Public 4 Year
  • Baylor Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UAFS
  • Baylor #167
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UAFS -
  • Baylor Baptist
  • Status
  • UAFS Non-profit
  • Baylor Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UAFS
  • Baylor

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UAFS $7,334
  • Baylor $58,100
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UAFS $12,182
  • Baylor $58,100
  • Room & Board
  • UAFS $10,082
  • Baylor $15,314
  • Average Net Price
  • UAFS $11,159
  • Baylor $47,001
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UAFS $7,715
  • Baylor $27,232
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UAFS 95%
  • Baylor 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UAFS 2,769
  • Baylor 46,946
  • Admitted
  • UAFS 2,228
  • Baylor 24,075
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UAFS 80.5%
  • Baylor 51.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UAFS 40.2%
  • Baylor 14.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UAFS
  • Baylor 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • UAFS
  • Baylor 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UAFS 3.39
  • Baylor 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UAFS B+
  • Baylor A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UAFS Unavailable
  • Baylor Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UAFS
  • Baylor Low
  • ACT Range
  • UAFS
  • Baylor 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UAFS
  • Baylor 1200/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UAFS Required
  • Baylor Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UAFS
  • Baylor Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UAFS 18:1
  • Baylor 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UAFS
    • Business (17%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Precision Production Trades (10%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (10%)
  • Baylor
    • Business (28%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UAFS 23%
  • Baylor 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UAFS $35,000
  • Baylor $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UAFS 47%
  • Baylor 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UAFS $14,132
  • Baylor $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UAFS $146
  • Baylor $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UAFS 40%
  • Baylor 39%
  • % Women
  • UAFS 60%
  • Baylor 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UAFS Medium
  • Baylor Medium
  • HBCU
  • UAFS No
  • Baylor No
  • % White
  • UAFS 70%
  • Baylor 64%
  • % Asian
  • UAFS 5%
  • Baylor 6%
  • % Black
  • UAFS 4%
  • Baylor 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UAFS 11%
  • Baylor 14%
  • % Native American
  • UAFS 2%
  • Baylor 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UAFS 0%
  • Baylor 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UAFS 6%
  • Baylor 5%
  • % International
  • UAFS 1%
  • Baylor 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UAFS 0%
  • Baylor 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UAFS 86%
  • Baylor 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UAFS 13%
  • Baylor 35%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UAFS Yes
  • Baylor Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UAFS No
  • Baylor No
  • Meal Plan
  • UAFS Yes
  • Baylor Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UAFS Yes
  • Baylor No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UAFS No
  • Baylor No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR with Baylor University in Waco, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Baylor University is larger than UAFS based on total student enrollment (20,626 students vs. 5,496 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Arkansas Fort Smith is located in Fort Smith, AR (Small City setting); Baylor University is in Waco, TX (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Baylor University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1; Baylor University 15:1.

UAFS vs. Baylor Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or Baylor? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than Baylor ($11,159 vs. $47,001).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas Fort Smith are 34.2% lower than at Baylor University ($10,082 vs. $15,314).
  • Baylor University is 692.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $50,766 more per year; $58,100.00 vs. $7,334.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 376.9% higher at Baylor than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $45,918 more per year; $58,100.00 vs. $12,182.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Baylor University than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (98% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Baylor University students is 253% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students ($27,232 vs. $7,715).

UAFS vs. Baylor Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UAFS or Baylor? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Baylor and UAFS.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresBaylor University 1200/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresBaylor University 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAFS - Required; Baylor - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Baylor Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Baylor students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at UAFS (3.39).
  • UAFS has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than Baylor (51.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.2% at UAFS vs. 14.2% at Baylor.

UAFS vs. Baylor Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAFS and Baylor? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Baylor University's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith's (23%).
  • Graduates from Baylor University earn a median of about $21,200 more per year than UAFS graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $10,868 lower median loan debt than Baylor graduates ($14,132 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $112 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Baylor graduates ($146 vs. $258).
  • More Baylor graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAFS students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.