UAFS vs. Penn College

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR with Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Arkansas Fort Smith is larger than Penn College based on total student enrollment (5,496 students vs. 4,575 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is located in Fort Smith, AR (Small City setting); Pennsylvania College of Technology is in Williamsport, PA (Small City setting).
• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1; Pennsylvania College of Technology 14:1.

UAFS vs. Penn College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or Penn College? 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 Penn College ($11,159 vs. $23,675).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas Fort Smith are 21.3% lower than at Pennsylvania College of Technology ($10,082 vs. $12,818).
• Pennsylvania College of Technology is 148.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $10,906 more per year; $18,240.00 vs. $7,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 113.3% higher at Penn College than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $13,798 more per year; $25,980.00 vs. $12,182.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than at Pennsylvania College of Technology (95% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania College of Technology students is 16.2% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students ($8,964 vs. $7,715).

UAFS vs. Penn College Admissions comparison

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

• Pennsylvania College of Technology reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAFS - Required; Penn College - Open admission.
• Enrolled freshman UAFS students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Penn College (3.05).

UAFS vs. Penn College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAFS and Penn College? 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.

• Pennsylvania College of Technology's six-year graduation rate (42%) is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith's (23%).
• Graduates from Pennsylvania College of Technology earn a median of about $9,400 more per year than UAFS graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,400 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $7,368 lower median loan debt than Penn College graduates ($14,132 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn College graduates ($146 vs. $222).
• More Penn College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAFS students, three years after graduation. (65% 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.