C+
Above Average
Score: 56/100
Overall (traditional)
B
Outcome Rating
73/100 · earnings-weighted

University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

4-Year Public
📍 Fort Smith, Arkansas 72913
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith campus, Fort Smith, AR
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith campus, Fort Smith, AR. Photo: Jtpost87, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
C+
60/100
Affordability
B
71/100
Resources
C
49/100
Experience
B+
75/100
Prestige
F
28/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

5,506
Total Enrollment
37%
Graduation Rate
72%
Retention Rate
20.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
81%
Acceptance Rate
$10,387
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near University of Arkansas-Fort Smith ▼

16% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

The campus ZIP (72913) has no residential market, so these figures average 3 nearby ZIP codes within 3 miles of campus (72904, 72903, 72901).

Avg Home Value
$165,805
Avg Monthly Rent
$977
1-Year Change
+4.1%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$41,102
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$35,925
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$18,250
Median debt at graduation
37.9%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,050
Average SAT
39.1%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 44% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 88th percentile among associate-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (AR wage index 0.72). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer and Information Sciences$51,896$82,688-10%#253 of 459#145$21,490
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$69,618$73,708-17%#909 of 966#528$20,413
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$54,484$72,074+2%#110 of 253#57—
Chemistry$22,255$66,817+3%#101 of 209#18—
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$58,380$65,470-4%#49 of 76#15$24,125
Business Administration, Management and Operations$39,057$50,020-27%#1087 of 1176#885$16,416
Biology$26,541$48,712-15%#721 of 841#450$19,462
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$40,525$45,378-12%#301 of 345#152$16,328
Social Work$32,532$45,275-13%#373 of 420#209$18,363
History$26,445$45,097-11%#374 of 459#165$20,189
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$40,565$44,197-7%#520 of 680#223$19,652
Criminal Justice and Corrections$33,460$43,509-21%#626 of 660#495$18,500
Psychology$29,853$40,519-20%#960 of 1027#689$21,000
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$26,728$37,641-29%#467 of 476#418$22,938
Communication and Media Studies$28,951$35,760-37%#651 of 660#621$19,500

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

🏆 Where University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#4
Industrial Electronics Technology/Technician
of 28 schools
#6
Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist
of 24 schools
#7
Pre-Engineering
of 32 schools
#13
Computer Support Specialist
of 50 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $4,512 $11,376
Room $4,750
Board $4,350
Total Cost (On-Campus) $23,137 $30,001

Financial Aid

99%
Receive Any Aid
56%
Receive Pell Grants
30%
Take Out Loans
$10,387
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$8,450
$30,001 - $48,000$9,256
$48,001 - $75,000$11,856
$75,001 - $110,000$13,295
$110,001+$13,335

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 309 grads/yr General Studies 295 grads/yr Industrial Electronics Technology/Technician 134 grads/yr Welding Technology/Welder 133 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 107 grads/yr Organizational Leadership 83 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 67 grads/yr Early Childhood Education and Teaching 63 grads/yr Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician 49 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 43 grads/yr Pre-Engineering 39 grads/yr Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) 36 grads/yr Elementary Education and Teaching 35 grads/yr Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machinist Technology/CNC Machinist 34 grads/yr Psychology, General 32 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration 30 grads/yr Computer Support Specialist 25 grads/yr Computer Science 23 grads/yr Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer 23 grads/yr Social Work 19 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from University of Arkansas-Fort Smith's top programs commonly pursue.

Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78k/yr 183,400 jobs
Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
$71k/yr 61,100 jobs
Semiconductor processing technicians
$51k/yr 31,900 jobs
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
$51k/yr 457,300 jobs
Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders
$47k/yr 38,900 jobs
Chief executives
$206k/yr 309,400 jobs
Compensation and benefits managers
$140k/yr 20,900 jobs
Human resources managers
$140k/yr 221,900 jobs

Student Demographics

5,506
Total Students
59%
Women
59%
Traditional Age (18-24)
16%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 58%
Hispanic 20%
Black 4%
Asian 5%
Two or More 10%
Non-Resident 1%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 40%
Off-Campus (Renters) 16%
With Family 44%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~897 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 34%
Hybrid (Some Online) 48%
Fully Online 19%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 59%
25-64 (Adult) 15%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith?
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith has an acceptance rate of 81%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend University of Arkansas-Fort Smith?
Tuition at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is $4,512 for in-state students and $11,376 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $10,387.
What is the graduation rate at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith?
The graduation rate at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is 37%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith a good school?
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith has a Repit College Score of 56/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (B): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend University of Arkansas-Fort Smith?
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith has a total enrollment of 5,506 students.
Is there rental demand near University of Arkansas-Fort Smith?
Yes! Approximately 16% of students at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 897 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for University of Arkansas-Fort Smith — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
Arkansas Tech University
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C+
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Monticello, AR · 2,739 students
C+
University of Central Arkansas
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C+
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Magnolia, AR · 5,127 students
C
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Little Rock, AR · 3,275 students
C+
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff, AR · 2,100 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology