UAFS vs. MACU

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR with Mid America Christian University in Oklahoma City, OK on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Arkansas Fort Smith is larger than MACU based on total student enrollment (5,496 students vs. 2,397 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is located in Fort Smith, AR (Small City setting); Mid America Christian University is in Oklahoma City, OK (Large City setting).
• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Mid America Christian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1; Mid America Christian University 14:1.

UAFS vs. MACU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or MACU? 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 MACU ($11,159 vs. $17,585).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mid America Christian University are 7.4% lower than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($9,336 vs. $10,082).
• Mid America Christian University is 190.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $13,960 more per year; $21,294.00 vs. $7,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 74.8% higher at MACU than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $9,112 more per year; $21,294.00 vs. $12,182.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith as at Mid America Christian University (95% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mid America Christian University students is 77.5% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students ($13,695 vs. $7,715).

UAFS vs. MACU Admissions comparison

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

• Mid America Christian University reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAFS - Required; MACU - Open admission.
• MACU has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than UAFS (80.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.2% at UAFS vs. 69% at MACU.

UAFS vs. MACU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAFS and MACU? 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.

• The graduation rate at UAFS is the same as at Mid America Christian University (23% vs. 23%).
• Graduates from Mid America Christian University earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than UAFS graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,000 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $13,306 lower median loan debt than MACU graduates ($14,132 vs. $27,438).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $137 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MACU graduates ($146 vs. $283).
• More UAFS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MACU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 37%)

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.