UAFS vs. UW-Eau Claire

Comparable Facts

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

University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is larger than UAFS based on total student enrollment (10,049 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); University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is in Eau Claire, WI (Small City setting).
• University of Arkansas Fort Smith is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arkansas Fort Smith 18:1; University of Wisconsin Eau Claire 19:1.

UAFS vs. UW-Eau Claire Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UAFS or UW-Eau Claire? 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 UW-Eau Claire ($11,159 vs. $15,151).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire are 11% lower than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith ($8,978 vs. $10,082).
• University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is 31.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UAFS (about $2,308 more per year; $9,642.00 vs. $7,334.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 57.8% higher at UW-Eau Claire than at University of Arkansas Fort Smith (about $7,046 more per year; $19,228.00 vs. $12,182.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arkansas Fort Smith than at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire (95% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arkansas Fort Smith students is 36.2% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Eau Claire students ($7,715 vs. $5,663).

UAFS vs. UW-Eau Claire Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UAFS or UW-Eau Claire? 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 UW-Eau Claire and UAFS.

• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresUniversity of Wisconsin Eau Claire 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UAFS - Required; UW-Eau Claire - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UW-Eau Claire Aug 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman UW-Eau Claire students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at UAFS (3.39).
• UW-Eau Claire has a higher acceptance rate (82.3%) than UAFS (80.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.2% at UAFS vs. 28.1% at UW-Eau Claire.

UAFS vs. UW-Eau Claire Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UAFS and UW-Eau Claire? 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 Wisconsin Eau Claire's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than University of Arkansas Fort Smith's (23%).
• Graduates from University of Wisconsin Eau Claire earn a median of about $12,900 more per year than UAFS graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,900 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arkansas Fort Smith graduates have a $9,118 lower median loan debt than UW-Eau Claire graduates ($14,132 vs. $23,250).
• Among borrowers, UAFS graduates have an estimated $94 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UW-Eau Claire graduates ($146 vs. $240).
• More UW-Eau Claire graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UAFS students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.