University of Central Arkansas vs. Southwestern Adventist University

Deciding between University of Central Arkansas and Southwestern Adventist University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Central Arkansas

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR
  • Southwestern Adventist University Keene, TX
  • Setting
  • University of Central Arkansas Distant Town
  • Southwestern Adventist University Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Central Arkansas 10,112
  • Southwestern Adventist University 764
  • Type
  • University of Central Arkansas Public 4 Year
  • Southwestern Adventist University Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Central Arkansas #826
  • Southwestern Adventist University
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Central Arkansas -
  • Southwestern Adventist University Seventh Day Adventists
  • Status
  • University of Central Arkansas Non-profit
  • Southwestern Adventist University Non-profit
  • Website
  • University of Central Arkansas uca.edu
  • Southwestern Adventist University swau.edu
  • Team Colors
  • University of Central Arkansas
  • Southwestern Adventist University
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Central Arkansas $10,523
  • Southwestern Adventist University $25,380
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Central Arkansas $18,023
  • Southwestern Adventist University $25,380
  • Room & Board
  • University of Central Arkansas $9,110
  • Southwestern Adventist University $9,400
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Central Arkansas $16,546
  • Southwestern Adventist University $20,466
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Central Arkansas $8,901
  • Southwestern Adventist University $15,126
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Central Arkansas 95%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 100%
  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • University of Central Arkansas Calculate
  • Southwestern Adventist University Calculate
  • Applied
  • University of Central Arkansas 7,039
  • Southwestern Adventist University 758
  • Admitted
  • University of Central Arkansas 6,299
  • Southwestern Adventist University 594
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Central Arkansas 89.5%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 78.4% Open
  • Enrolled
  • University of Central Arkansas 34.6%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 20.7% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Central Arkansas 1040
  • Southwestern Adventist University 1060
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Central Arkansas 22
  • Southwestern Adventist University 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Central Arkansas 3.7
  • Southwestern Adventist University 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Central Arkansas A-
  • Southwestern Adventist University B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Central Arkansas Easy
  • Southwestern Adventist University Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Central Arkansas
  • Southwestern Adventist University
  • ACT Range
  • University of Central Arkansas 19/25
  • Southwestern Adventist University 17/25
  • SAT Range
  • University of Central Arkansas 910/1170
  • Southwestern Adventist University 910/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Central Arkansas Test optional
  • Southwestern Adventist University Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Central Arkansas
  • Southwestern Adventist University Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Central Arkansas 15:1
  • Southwestern Adventist University 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Central Arkansas
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (55%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Education (4%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (3%)
  • Southwestern Adventist University
    • Health Professions (29%)
    • Business (22%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Central Arkansas 40%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 38%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Central Arkansas $40,800
  • Southwestern Adventist University $42,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Central Arkansas 57%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 49%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Central Arkansas $21,415
  • Southwestern Adventist University $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Central Arkansas $221
  • Southwestern Adventist University $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Central Arkansas 36%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 43%
  • % Women
  • University of Central Arkansas 64%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Central Arkansas Medium
  • Southwestern Adventist University Very High
  • HBCU
  • University of Central Arkansas No
  • Southwestern Adventist University No
  • % White
  • University of Central Arkansas 66%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 21%
  • % Asian
  • University of Central Arkansas 2%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 3%
  • % Black
  • University of Central Arkansas 18%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 14%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Central Arkansas 5%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 41%
  • % Native American
  • University of Central Arkansas 1%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Central Arkansas 0%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 2%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Central Arkansas 4%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 4%
  • % International
  • University of Central Arkansas 4%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Central Arkansas 1%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Central Arkansas 91%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Central Arkansas 7%
  • Southwestern Adventist University 24%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • University of Central Arkansas Yes
  • Southwestern Adventist University Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • University of Central Arkansas No
  • Southwestern Adventist University No
  • Meal Plan
  • University of Central Arkansas Yes
  • Southwestern Adventist University Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • University of Central Arkansas No
  • Southwestern Adventist University No
  • Daycare Facility
  • University of Central Arkansas No
  • Southwestern Adventist University No
  • Learn More
  • University of Central Arkansas Details
  • Southwestern Adventist University Details

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR with Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Central Arkansas is larger than Southwestern Adventist University based on total student enrollment (10,112 students vs. 764 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Central Arkansas is located in Conway, AR (Distant Town setting); Southwestern Adventist University is in Keene, TX (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Central Arkansas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southwestern Adventist University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Central Arkansas 15:1; Southwestern Adventist University 12:1.

University of Central Arkansas vs. Southwestern Adventist University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Central Arkansas or Southwestern Adventist University? 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 Central Arkansas than Southwestern Adventist University ($16,546 vs. $20,466).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Arkansas are 3.1% lower than at Southwestern Adventist University ($9,110 vs. $9,400).
  • Southwestern Adventist University is 141.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Central Arkansas (about $14,857 more per year; $25,380.00 vs. $10,523.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.8% higher at Southwestern Adventist University than at University of Central Arkansas (about $7,357 more per year; $25,380.00 vs. $18,023.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwestern Adventist University than at University of Central Arkansas (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern Adventist University students is 69.9% larger than aid received by University of Central Arkansas students ($15,126 vs. $8,901).

University of Central Arkansas vs. Southwestern Adventist University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Central Arkansas or Southwestern Adventist University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Southwestern Adventist University and University of Central Arkansas.

  • Southwestern Adventist University reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Southwestern Adventist University (1060) is 20 points higher than at University of Central Arkansas (1040).
  • Incoming University of Central Arkansas students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 21 at Southwestern Adventist University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Central Arkansas 910/1170; Southwestern Adventist University 910/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Central Arkansas 19/25; Southwestern Adventist University 17/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Central Arkansas - Test optional; Southwestern Adventist University - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Southwestern Adventist University Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Central Arkansas students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Southwestern Adventist University (3.3).
  • University of Central Arkansas has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than Southwestern Adventist University (78.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 34.6% at University of Central Arkansas vs. 20.7% at Southwestern Adventist University.

University of Central Arkansas vs. Southwestern Adventist University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Central Arkansas and Southwestern Adventist University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Central Arkansas's six-year graduation rate (40%) is higher than Southwestern Adventist University's (38%).
  • Graduates from Southwestern Adventist University earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than University of Central Arkansas graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,600 vs. $40,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Central Arkansas graduates have a $4,585 lower median loan debt than Southwestern Adventist University graduates ($21,415 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, University of Central Arkansas graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Southwestern Adventist University graduates ($221 vs. $268).
  • More University of Central Arkansas graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwestern Adventist University students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 49%)

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.