Public · Conway, Arkansas

University of Central Arkansas

University of Central Arkansas is a public institution in Conway, Arkansas. as a public institution, published Scorecard outcomes are the federal Title-IV cohort view of former students — not every graduate and not a guarantee for any one enrollee.

$16,511
Avg net price / yr
$45,938
10-yr median earnings
53.4%
150%-time completion
89.5%
Acceptance rate

The verdict

University of Central Arkansas pairs above-median former-student earnings with open admission.

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.

Top 37%
former-student earnings, US
89.5%
acceptance rate
53.4%
150%-time completion
+25%
earnings, 6→10 yrs
City: Small Carnegie: Doctoral/Prof
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Institution data retrieved July 2026; field-of-study data retrieved March 2026.

How to read this University of Central Arkansas profile

Figures above come from IPEDS institution records published through the College Scorecard (retrieved July 2026 for institution fields; March 2026 for field-of-study). Peer groups and cost cohorts follow IPEDS ownership sector, Carnegie class ("Doctoral/Professional Universities"), and locale, not an editorial shortlist.

Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate Title IV recipients. It is a defined cohort average, not a personalized price; income-band fields add context but do not replace the school's current net-price calculator.

Earnings use Treasury-linked records for federally aided former students who were working and not enrolled in the measurement year (completers and noncompleters). IPEDS completion and retention use separate first-time, full-time cohorts, so those denominators are not the earnings cohort. Read cost, completion, and earnings as distinct historical measures, not a causal verdict or individual forecast.

College Value Score

C-
College Value Score
51/100
University of Central Arkansas

A 6-metric composite of earnings, cost, and completion outcomes benchmarked against every reporting US college, not a ranking of teaching quality, campus life, or fit for any individual student. See the full methodology.

Earnings C+
$45,938
10-year median former-student earnings
Net Price C-
$16,511
Average annual cost after grants and aid
Completion Rate D
53.4%
Completion within 150% of normal time
Debt F
$20,346
Median federal debt at graduation
Loan Repayment B+
75.4%
Borrowers repaying loans within 3 years
Retention D
73.3%
First-year students returning for year two
University of Central Arkansas vs. the national benchmark
EarningsNet PriceCompletionDebtRepaymentRetention

Each axis is the percentile score shown in the breakdown at left; the shape shows this school's overall profile at a glance.

10-yr median earnings

$45,938

Federal aid recipients only

Avg net price

$16,511

After grants and scholarships

150%-time completion

53.4%

Full-time, first-time cohort

150%-time completion vs portal median (57.1%) 53.4%

Four-year-institution cohort

College ROI Quadrant - University of Central Arkansas vs peers

University of Central Arkansas positioned by earnings vs cost Two-by-two quadrant chart: x-axis median earnings 10 years after enrollment, y-axis average net price after financial aid. Each dot is a college, colored by completion within 150% of normal time (garnet ≥65%, amber 45-64%, red <45%). Net price increases upward, earnings increase rightward, so: bottom-right = best value (low cost, high earnings); top-right = premium (high cost, high earnings); bottom-left = community college tier (low cost, modest earnings); top-left = cost challenge (high cost, low earnings). Currently plotting 8 colleges. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard joined to Carnegie Classification. University of Central Arkansas positioned by… Carnegie Classification: Doctoral/Prof Doctoral/P… COST CHALLENGE PREMIUM COMMUNITY BEST VALUE $30K $49K Median Earnings 10 Years After Enrollment ($) $6K $18K Avg Net Price ($) University of Central Arkansas (you are here): $46K earn · $17K net · 53% grad You are here - University of Cent… Arkansas State University: $43K earn · $12K net · 55% grad Arkansas State Uni… Arkansas Tech University: $42K earn · $13K net · 49% grad Arkansas Tech Univ… NorthWest Arkansas Community College: $44K earn · $7K net · 29% grad NorthWest Arkansas… University of Arkansas at Little Rock: $45K earn · $17K net · 42% grad University of Arka… University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College: $35K earn · $14K net · 34% grad University of Arka… University of Arkansas-Fort Smith: $41K earn · $11K net · 37% grad Central Baptist College: $47K earn · $12K net · 35% grad Grad rate (4yr) ≥65% 45-64% <45%
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education

Each dot is a college plotted by 10-year median earnings (x-axis) vs average net price (y-axis), colored by completion within 150% of normal time. Bottom-right = high earnings/lower price; top-left = lower earnings/higher price.

How University of Central Arkansas ranks nationally

Where this school's former-student earnings fall within the full national distribution of every US college that reports to the College Scorecard, not just its peer set.

University of Central Arkansas: former-student earnings vs. every US college

10-year median earnings, College Scorecard

$45,938 Top 37% higher than 63% of 5,103 US colleges

$0–$20,000: 169 US colleges (3%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 2,245 US colleges (44%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 1,897 US colleges (37%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 606 US colleges (12%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 134 US colleges (3%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 39 US colleges (1%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 11 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 2 US colleges (0%). Above this entry. This college $0 $160,000 every US college, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Metric University of Central Arkansas National rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $45,938 #1890 of 5103 63rd
Average net price $16,511 #2382 of 5020 53rd (lower is better)
150%-time completion 53.4% #2713 of 4858 44th
Undergraduate enrollment 7,762 #466 of 5462 91st

National ranks count every operating US college reporting each metric to the College Scorecard, separate from the earnings histogram above.

Quick Facts

7,762
Undergraduate enrollment
89.5%
Acceptance rate
1,118
SAT average
53.4%
150%-time completion
$45,938
10-yr median earnings
73.3%
First-year retention

How University of Central Arkansas ranks in Arkansas

State rank among 72 reporting Arkansas colleges with College Scorecard data, a separate lens from the national distribution above.

Metric University of Central Arkansas State rank Percentile
10-yr median earnings $45,938 #11 of 72 85th
Average net price $16,511 #49 of 70 30th (lower is better)
150%-time completion 53.4% #24 of 67 64th
Undergraduate enrollment 7,762 #3 of 74 96th

Highest former-student earnings in Arkansas

#School10-yr earningsNet price
1Jefferson Regional School of Nursing$73,975-
2University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences$73,827-
3University of Arkansas Grantham$63,496$8,370
4Baptist Health College Little Rock$62,244$25,454
5Hendrix College$60,376$24,149
6University of Arkansas$58,191$18,209
7John Brown University$53,907$20,397
8Harding University$52,876$22,130
9Ouachita Baptist University$51,673$22,409
10Central Baptist College$46,789$12,287
11University of Central ArkansasThis school$45,938$16,511
12University of Arkansas at Little Rock$45,265$17,248

Admissions

Admission Rate 89.5%
SAT Average 1,118
SAT Math (25th-75th) 430 – 580
SAT Reading (25th-75th) 480 – 590
ACT Average 23
ACT (25th-75th) 19 – 25
0%100%89.5%
Share of applicants admitted

Costs & Financial Aid

Net price by family income at University of Central Arkansas

Average annual net price after grants; Title IV recipient cohort by income bracket

net price / yr

What this shows Need-based aid pulls net price down at lower brackets at University of Central Arkansas - compare the bar for your income band, not the overall average alone.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Tuition & Net Price

In-State Tuition $10,523
Out-of-State Tuition $18,023
Average Net Price $16,511
38.0%
Pell Grant Rate
39.9%
Federal Loan Rate
$20,346
Median Debt
$216/mo
Monthly Payment

What students pay at University of Central Arkansas rose +73.1% since 2013

Average net price for the reported Title IV-recipient cohort went from $9,693 in 2013 to $16,775 in 2023, a rise of $7,082 in nominal dollars. Across the 4,315 colleges measured over the same 2013–2023 span, the median change was +14.6%.

Average net price, 2013–2023

11 reported years. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

2013: $9,6932014: $11,0872015: $13,0632016: $13,2312017: $14,3752018: $14,7232019: $15,3762020: $16,5542021: $14,7352022: $15,8892023: $16,775
2013 · $9,6932023 · $16,775

Over the same years, enrollment went -19.8% (9,261 → 7,426 students).

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, per-year fields (2013–2023). Net price is the average cost after grant and scholarship aid for federally-aided undergraduates.

Student Demographics

Race & ethnicity

Student body at a glance

61.7%
Female
34.6%
First Generation

Outcomes

73.3%
Retention Rate
$36,670
Median Earnings (6yr)
58.0%
Earning Over $25K
75.4%
Loan Repayment, Completers (3yr)

Outcomes & debt snapshot

Measure Cohort / horizon Value
Completion within 150% of normal time First-time, full-time 53.4%
First-year retention First-time, full-time freshmen 73.3%
Median earnings 6 years after entry $36,670
Median earnings 10 years after entry $45,938
Share earning over $25,000 Working, not enrolled 58.0%
Loan repayment rate Completers, 3 years after leaving 75.4%
Median federal student debt At completion $20,346
Estimated monthly payment Standard 10-year plan $216/mo

Programs & Earnings

Field-of-study summary by credential

Credential Programs Award count Avg earnings Top earnings Avg debt
Bachelor's 42 1,630 $51,371 $76,783 $21,011
Master's 15 394 $65,033 $114,073 $28,957
Doctoral 1 2 $80,363 $80,363 $59,486
Graduate Certificate 1 19 $65,355 $65,355 $33,513
Associate's 1 29 $39,509 $39,509 -

Top programs at University of Central Arkansas by completer earnings

Median earnings of program completers, College Scorecard field-of-study file

median earnings

What this shows The highest-earning programs at a school are not necessarily its most popular ones - a small specialized program can post strong median earnings without reflecting the outcome most students here actually see.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard As of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals

Program Credential Completers Median Earnings Median Debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Master's 7 $114,073 $37,479
Business Administration, Management and Operations Master's 82 $88,939 $16,000
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions Doctoral 2 $80,363 $59,486
Geography and Cartography Master's 2 $79,722 -
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's 113 $76,783 $19,250
Computer and Information Sciences, General Bachelor's 53 $75,893 $22,079
Management Information Systems and Services Bachelor's 24 $74,094 $21,500
Accounting and Related Services Bachelor's 41 $72,684 $16,798
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions Master's - $67,940 $38,223
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Bachelor's 26 $66,499 $21,750
Educational Administration and Supervision Graduate Certificate 19 $65,355 $33,513
Mathematics Bachelor's 16 $63,239 $16,711
Business/Commerce, General Bachelor's 39 $59,641 $18,150
Finance and Financial Management Services Bachelor's 50 $58,941 $16,896
Marketing Bachelor's 62 $57,940 $19,557

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at University of Central Arkansas?
University of Central Arkansas is a public institution in Conway, Arkansas. The acceptance rate is 89.5%. The average SAT score is 1,118. Undergraduate enrollment is 7,762 students.
How much do University of Central Arkansas former students earn?
Federally aided former students at University of Central Arkansas who were working and not enrolled had median earnings of $45,938 ten years after entry; the cohort is not limited to graduates. Six years after entry, the corresponding median is $36,670.
How much does University of Central Arkansas cost?
The average net price at University of Central Arkansas is $16,511. In-state tuition is $10,523 and out-of-state tuition is $18,023. Median student debt at graduation is $20,346.
What is the graduation rate at University of Central Arkansas?
University of Central Arkansas has a 53.4% completion rate within 150% of normal time at a four-year institution (typically six years for a bachelor’s program). The first-year retention rate is 73.3%.
Is University of Central Arkansas worth the student debt?
The median student debt at University of Central Arkansas is $20,346, while former students earn a median of $45,938 ten years after enrollment. That debt represents about 44% of those annual earnings. Among borrowers who completed their program, 75.4% are repaying their loans within 3 years. Estimated monthly loan payment is $216.

Sources & methodology

Public-college profiles lean on IPEDS enrollment and Scorecard Title-IV outcomes. State appropriations are outside this page; the figures below are the federal cohort measures only.

Every number is read live from the Mar–Jul 2026 Scorecard/IPEDS retrievals. Public institutions often enroll large Title-IV cohorts, so medians can be stable — still cohort averages, never a personal forecast. Read the full methodology for how the data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Where to go next from University of Central Arkansas

Public-college Scorecard figures are historical Title-IV cohort averages — confirm current tuition, aid, and admissions rules with the institution before deciding.

Every figure on PlainCollege is rendered directly from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard data, no number is typed in by an editor. Public-institution profiles compile Scorecard Title-IV earnings, IPEDS enrollment/admissions, and Treasury linkage fields — no editor-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Review the public data changelog. Data current as of Mar–Jul 2026 retrievals.