UAFS vs. OU

Comparable Facts

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

University of Arkansas Fort Smith is larger than OU based on total student enrollment (5,496 students vs. 999 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is located in Fort Smith, AR (Small City setting); Ottawa University Ottawa is in Ottawa, KS (Distant Town setting).
• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ottawa University Ottawa is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1; Ottawa University Ottawa 12:1.

UAFS vs. OU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or OU? 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 OU ($11,159 vs. $28,185).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas Fort Smith are 26.1% lower than at Ottawa University Ottawa ($10,082 vs. $13,646).
• Ottawa University Ottawa is 389.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $28,546 more per year; $35,880.00 vs. $7,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 194.5% higher at OU than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $23,698 more per year; $35,880.00 vs. $12,182.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ottawa University Ottawa than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ottawa University Ottawa students is 207.1% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students ($23,692 vs. $7,715).

UAFS vs. OU Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresOttawa University Ottawa 750/1000.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresOttawa University Ottawa 16/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAFS - Required; OU - Test optional.
• Enrolled freshman UAFS students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at OU (3.12).
• OU has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than UAFS (80.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.2% at UAFS vs. 14.1% at OU.

UAFS vs. OU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAFS and OU? 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.

• Ottawa University Ottawa's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith's (23%).
• Graduates from Ottawa University Ottawa earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than UAFS graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,400 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $7,743 lower median loan debt than OU graduates ($14,132 vs. $21,875).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OU graduates ($146 vs. $226).
• More UAFS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 46%)

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.