UAFS vs. CSU Bakersfield

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR with California State University Bakersfield in Bakersfield, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California State University Bakersfield is larger than UAFS based on total student enrollment (10,419 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); California State University Bakersfield is in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting).
• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Bakersfield is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1; California State University Bakersfield 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas Fort Smith are 33.1% lower than at California State University Bakersfield ($10,082 vs. $15,076).
• Out-of-state tuition is 69.8% higher at CSU Bakersfield than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $8,508 more per year; $20,690 vs. $12,182).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than at California State University Bakersfield (95% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Bakersfield students is 68.1% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students ($12,966 vs. $7,715).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are required at UAFS, test-free at CSU Bakersfield.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Bakersfield Dec 15, 2026.
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.2% at UAFS vs. 10.4% at CSU Bakersfield.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Bakersfield graduates have a $964 lower median loan debt than UAFS graduates ($13,168 vs. $14,132).
• Among borrowers, CSU Bakersfield graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UAFS graduates ($136 vs. $146).
• More CSU Bakersfield graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAFS students, three years after graduation (54% vs. 47%).

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