UAFS vs. ECU

Should I go to University of Arkansas Fort Smith or East Central University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UAFS or ECU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of Arkansas Fort Smith vs. East Central University comparison
University of Arkansas Fort Smith East Central University College 3 College 4
East Central University
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Overview

 UAFS ECU
Location Fort Smith, AR Ada, OK
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 5,379 3,376
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #928
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uafortsmith.edu ecok.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UAFS ECU
Tuition (In State) $4,104 $6,001
Tuition (Out of State) $11,376 $15,361
Room & Board $9,645 $7,752
Avg Net Price $10,705 $10,221
Avg Grant Aid $8,283 $8,853
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 89%

Admission

 UAFS ECU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 1,200
Admitted - 841
Acceptance Rate 70.1%
Enrolled % 59.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.39 3.31
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22
SAT Range 960/1078
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 UAFS ECU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (17%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Precision Production Trades (10%)
  • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (10%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

 UAFS ECU
Graduation Rate 23% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,000 $40,300
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 45%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,132 $16,878
Median Loan Payment $146 $174

Diversity

 UAFS ECU
% Men 40% 38%
% Women 60% 62%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 70% 55%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 11% 5%
% Native American 2% 14%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 10%
% International 1% 10%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

 UAFS ECU
% In-State 87% 88%
% Out-of-State 12% 11%

Campus

 UAFS ECU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Arkansas Fort Smith is larger than than ECU based on total student enrollment (5,379 students vs. 3,376 students)

UAFS vs. ECU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or ECU?

  • East Central University is 46.2% more expensive to attend than UAFS for in-state tuition ($6,001.00 vs. $4,104.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 35% higher at ECU than University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($15,361.00 vs. $11,376.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Central University than UAFS ($10,221 vs. $10,705)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Central University are 24.4% lower than costs at University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($7,752 vs. $9,645)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than East Central University (100% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by East Central University students is 6.9% larger than aid received University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($8,853 vs. $8,283)

Which college is harder to get into, UAFS or ECU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ECU or UAFS .

  • Accepted freshman UAFS students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at ECU (3.31)

UAFS vs. ECU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UAFS or ECU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between ECU and UAFS.

  • The graduation rate at ECU is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith (34% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from East Central University earn on average $5,300 more per year than UAFS graduates after ten years. ($40,300 vs. $35,000)
  • University of Arkansas Fort Smith students graduate with a $2,746 lower median federal student loan debt than ECU graduates. ($14,132 vs. $16,878)
  • UAFS graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than ECU graduates. ($146 vs. $174)
  • More UAFS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/