University of Central Arkansas combines open admission policies with surprisingly strong academic preparation, achieving 90th percentile SAT performance despite accepting most applicants. As an Opportunity Builder, the university delivers well above average mobility outcomes for its diverse student population while maintaining manageable costs.
Around the national average, reflecting solid but not exceptional long-term earnings relative to educational investment
With above average performance, driven by controlled net prices and reasonable debt levels
With above average performance, indicating strong enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students
With well above average performance, reflecting the university's effectiveness in supporting economic advancement for diverse student populations
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Open access with strong test scores
University of Central Arkansas ranks #447 nationally in Azimuth's composite analysis, with performance at the 72.6th percentile. Located in Conway, Arkansas, this medium-sized public university maintains an open-access admission policy with a 90.5% acceptance rate while delivering above-average outcomes across multiple measures.
The institution enrolls 37.3% Pell-eligible students and 34.6% first-generation students, demonstrating strong commitment to educational access. Graduates earn a median of $45,938 ten years after enrollment, placing the university at the 29th percentile nationally.
However, the university achieves earnings around the national average relative to expectations, with low-income graduates earning $37,900. Median student debt remains manageable at $20,346, above average compared to similar institutions.
This combination of high accessibility, controlled costs, and solid outcomes positions University of Central Arkansas as an Opportunity Builder institution that prioritizes broad educational access while maintaining reasonable graduate outcomes.
University of Central Arkansas delivers solid return on investment through controlled costs and reasonable debt levels. The institution's published cost of attendance is $24,265, including $10,118 in-state tuition, $8,662 for room and board, and $1,230 for books and supplies.
The average student pays $16,775 after financial aid, representing savings of $7,490 through institutional support. Net prices vary significantly by family income, ranging from $14,387 for families earning under $30,000 to $20,028 for those earning over $110,000.
Students seeking affordable education with above-average access and strong mobility outcomes. Well-suited for first-generation students (34.6%) and those from lower-income backgrounds (37.3% Pell-eligible) who want an open-access public university that maintains surprisingly strong test score performance despite high admission rates.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the University Of Central Arkansas hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/university-of-central-arkansas/analysis.
University of Central Arkansas maintains an open-access admission policy, accepting 90.5% of applicants. This means that roughly 9 out of 10 applicants receive admission offers, making University of Central Arkansas accessible to most students who apply. The peer median admission rate of 84.6% shows that University of Central Arkansas is more accessible than typical four-year institutions, accepting about 6 percentage points more applicants than similar schools.
This level of accessibility means that most academically prepared students can gain admission to University of Central Arkansas. The university's open-access approach reflects its mission to serve diverse student populations and provide educational opportunity to students across a wide range of academic backgrounds. For most applicants, admission to University of Central Arkansas represents a realistic and achievable goal rather than a competitive reach. Students should view University of Central Arkansas as a strong safety or match school when building their college lists, particularly those seeking affordable public education with solid outcomes.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Central Arkansas offers reasonable affordability for a public institution, with a published cost of attendance of $24,265 annually. This total includes $10,118 in in-state tuition, $8,662 for room and board, and $1,230 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays significantly less at $16,775 after financial aid, representing average savings of $7,490 through institutional assistance.
The net price of $16,775 sits above the peer median of $14,093, making University of Central Arkansas somewhat more expensive than similar institutions. This difference of $2,682 reflects relatively modest additional costs compared to peer schools. The university's affordability index ranks at the 72.0th percentile with above average performance, indicating controlled costs relative to outcomes. Financial aid reduces the sticker price by approximately 31%, demonstrating meaningful institutional support for students across income levels.
University of Central Arkansas graduates demonstrate steady earnings growth throughout their careers. Median earnings rise from $36,670 six years after enrollment to $42,426 at eight years and $45,938 at ten years, representing 25.3% growth from the six-year mark. These outcomes are based on cohorts ranging from 2,962 to 3,229 graduates, providing strong confidence in the reported figures.
Earnings span from $28,642 at the 25th percentile to $65,378 at the 75th percentile, reflecting a 2.3:1 ratio between top and bottom quartile outcomes. Low-income graduates earn $37,900, demonstrating that students from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve reasonable economic outcomes. Approximately 24.4% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both workforce entry and advanced education. The earnings trajectory shows consistent upward movement, suggesting strong career advancement potential for graduates.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Wisconsin-Green Bay Similar quality tier (#446 ranked) | WI | 88% | $52,528 | #446 | Compare |
Vermont State University Similar quality tier (#450 ranked) | VT | 83% | $50,331 | #450 | Compare |
University Of Colorado Colorado Springs Similar quality tier (#451 ranked) | CO | 97% | $54,659 | #451 | Compare |
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi Similar quality tier (#454 ranked) | NY | 88% | $51,629 | #454 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Parkside Similar quality tier (#442 ranked) | WI | 73% | $51,129 | #442 | Compare |
Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping.
45 graduates
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing.
105 graduates
Artificial Intelligence.
61 graduates
Information Resources Management.
30 graduates
Banking and Financial Support Services.
56 graduates
University of Central Arkansas offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data available for analysis. Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences ranks #8 nationally and #1 in Arkansas, producing 76 graduates with median earnings of $51,582 and an exceptional value score of 63.2. Clinical Pastoral Counseling ranks #6 nationally and #1 in Arkansas, graduating 66 students with median earnings of $41,409.
Family and Consumer Sciences ranks #14 nationally and #1 in Arkansas, graduating 48 students with median earnings of $36,590. Business/Commerce ranks #48 nationally and #1 in Arkansas, with 51 graduates earning $51,195. Adult and Continuing Education ranks #145 nationally and #2 in Arkansas, graduating 94 students with median earnings of $39,742. These rankings demonstrate particular strength in health-related fields and applied professional programs, with several programs achieving top state rankings.
