UAFS vs. DSC

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR with Dalton State College in Dalton, GA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Arkansas Fort Smith is larger than DSC based on total student enrollment (5,496 students vs. 5,135 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is located in Fort Smith, AR (Small City setting); Dalton State College is in Dalton, GA (Small City setting).
• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Dalton State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1; Dalton State College 21:1.

UAFS vs. DSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or DSC? 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 Dalton State College than UAFS ($5,625 vs. $11,159).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas Fort Smith are 3.2% lower than at Dalton State College ($10,082 vs. $10,419).
• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is 119.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than DSC (about $3,998 more per year; $7,334.00 vs. $3,336.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.3% higher at UAFS than at Dalton State College (about $1,526 more per year; $12,182.00 vs. $10,656.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than at Dalton State College (95% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students is 15.9% larger than aid received by Dalton State College students ($7,715 vs. $6,654).

UAFS vs. DSC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UAFS or DSC? 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 DSC and UAFS.

• Dalton State College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAFS - Required; DSC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: DSC Jul 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman UAFS students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at DSC (3.1).

UAFS vs. DSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAFS and DSC? 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.

• University of Arkansas Fort Smith's six-year graduation rate (23%) is higher than Dalton State College's (16%).
• Graduates from University of Arkansas Fort Smith earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than DSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,000 vs. $32,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $755 lower median loan debt than DSC graduates ($14,132 vs. $14,887).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DSC graduates ($146 vs. $153).
• More UAFS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DSC students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 42%)

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.