UAFS vs. UMES

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Arkansas Fort Smith in Fort Smith, AR with University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Arkansas Fort Smith is larger than UMES based on total student enrollment (5,496 students vs. 3,177 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is located in Fort Smith, AR (Small City setting); University of Maryland Eastern Shore is in Princess Anne, MD (Distant Town setting).
• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Maryland Eastern Shore is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1; University of Maryland Eastern Shore 11:1.

UAFS vs. UMES Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or UMES? 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 UMES ($11,159 vs. $13,311).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arkansas Fort Smith are 11.2% lower than at University of Maryland Eastern Shore ($10,082 vs. $11,351).
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore is 23.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $1,742 more per year; $9,076.00 vs. $7,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 65.2% higher at UMES than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $7,940 more per year; $20,122.00 vs. $12,182.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Maryland Eastern Shore than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (98% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Maryland Eastern Shore students is 65% larger than aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students ($12,728 vs. $7,715).

UAFS vs. UMES Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresUniversity of Maryland Eastern Shore 840/1010.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresUniversity of Maryland Eastern Shore 16/19.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAFS - Required; UMES - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UMES Jun 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman UAFS students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at UMES (3.07).
• UMES has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than UAFS (80.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.2% at UAFS vs. 8.6% at UMES.

UAFS vs. UMES Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAFS and UMES? 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 Maryland Eastern Shore's six-year graduation rate (31%) is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith's (23%).
• Graduates from University of Maryland Eastern Shore earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than UAFS graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $12,868 lower median loan debt than UMES graduates ($14,132 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $133 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMES graduates ($146 vs. $279).
• More UAFS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMES students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 23%)

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.