UAFS vs. FIT

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR with Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fashion Institute of Technology is larger than UAFS based on total student enrollment (8,206 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); Fashion Institute of Technology is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Fashion Institute of Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1; Fashion Institute of Technology 16:1.

UAFS vs. FIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or FIT? 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 FIT ($11,159 vs. $16,340).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas Fort Smith are 60.4% lower than at Fashion Institute of Technology ($10,082 vs. $25,458).
• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is 16.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than FIT (about $1,040 more per year; $7,334.00 vs. $6,294.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 38.5% higher at FIT than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $4,692 more per year; $16,874.00 vs. $12,182.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than at Fashion Institute of Technology (95% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fashion Institute of Technology students is 7.6% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students ($8,304 vs. $7,715).

UAFS vs. FIT Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAFS - Required; FIT - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: FIT Jan 1, 2027.
• UAFS has a higher acceptance rate (80.5%) than FIT (60.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.2% at UAFS vs. 55.8% at FIT.

UAFS vs. FIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAFS and FIT? 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 is 23%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for FIT.
• Graduates from Fashion Institute of Technology earn a median of about $16,600 more per year than UAFS graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,600 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $5,368 lower median loan debt than FIT graduates ($14,132 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FIT graduates ($146 vs. $201).
• More FIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAFS students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.