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.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
Admitted students at University of Central Arkansas demonstrate solid academic preparation despite the institution's open admission policy. SAT scores range from 940 at the 25th percentile to 1,120 at the 75th percentile, with a median of 1,117. This means most enrolled students score between 940 and 1,120, though students outside this range are regularly admitted. SAT Math scores span 450 to 550, while SAT Verbal scores range from 490 to 570.
ACT scores range from 19 at the 25th percentile to 25 at the 75th percentile, with a median of 23. The university's test score performance ranks at the 90th percentile nationally for SAT and 91st percentile for ACT, indicating that despite open admission, University of Central Arkansas attracts academically well-prepared students. These scores sit 27 points above the peer median SAT of 1,090 and 1 point above the peer median ACT of 22.
Students scoring below the 25th percentile ranges should expect to be academically challenged but are not excluded from admission. If your scores fall within the middle 50% ranges, you demonstrate competitive academic preparation for success at University of Central Arkansas.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
University of Central Arkansas enrolls a diverse student body that reflects its commitment to educational access. The institution serves 37.3% Pell-eligible students, indicating more than one-third of enrolled students come from lower-income families. First-generation college students comprise 34.6% of enrollment, showing the university serves many students whose parents did not complete bachelor's degrees.
Transfer students represent 21.6% of enrollment, demonstrating pathways for students from community colleges and other institutions. This composition indicates that University of Central Arkansas prioritizes serving students from diverse economic and educational backgrounds alongside those from more traditional college-going families. The substantial Pell and first-generation shares suggest the university actively supports students who might face financial or cultural barriers to higher education.
Given University of Central Arkansas's 90.5% acceptance rate, admission is accessible to most qualified applicants, making reach alternatives less necessary than at highly selective institutions.
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First-generation students should know that more than one-third of enrolled students share their background, creating a supportive environment for navigating college successfully. Students from lower-income families should consider the 37.3% Pell share when assessing institutional fit and support systems.
University of Central Arkansas demonstrates mixed outcomes in student success metrics. The retention rate of 73.4% means nearly three-quarters of freshmen return for sophomore year, slightly above the peer median of 73.2%. However, the six-year graduation rate of 53.3% indicates that just over half of entering students complete their degrees within the traditional timeframe, compared to a peer median of 49.3%.
Pell-eligible students graduate at 38.0%, creating a 15.3 percentage point gap compared to the overall completion rate. This gap suggests that lower-income students face additional challenges in degree completion, though the university's overall graduation rate exceeds peer expectations. The difference between retention and completion rates indicates that while most students persist beyond the first year, maintaining momentum through degree completion remains challenging for many.
Prospective students should view the 73.4% retention rate as indicating reasonable first-year support, but should also consider the completion challenges reflected in the 53.3% graduation rate. Lower-income students should weigh the 15.3 percentage point Pell gap when evaluating institutional fit and available support systems.
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