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University of Central Arkansas
University of Central Arkansas admits nearly everyone — 89.5% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether University of Central Arkansas is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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University of Central Arkansas sits in Conway proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $76,783 four years out. Faculty pay averages $89,988 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 7,762 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 73.3% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 940 and 1120 — below the AR middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University of Central Arkansas's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
University of Central Arkansas is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 940–1120 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically University of Central Arkansas's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 490 | 540 | 570 |
| SAT Math | 450 | 510 | 550 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 22 | 25 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of Central Arkansas received 6,589 applications and admitted 5,961 (90.5%), with 1,737 enrolling.
How University of Central Arkansas compares
| University of Central Arkansas | Arkansas median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 89.5% | 70.5% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,523 | $13,467 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $45,938 | $44,308 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Central Arkansas student earns $45,938 — 4% above the Arkansas median of $44,308 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, University of Central Arkansas prices by residency: $10,523 in-state versus $18,023 out-of-state — a $7,500 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
University of Central Arkansas enrolls 7,762 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs University of Central Arkansas's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
53.5% graduate within six years. Roughly 46% don't — ask a University of Central Arkansas tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at University of Central Arkansas
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $76,783 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $75,893 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $74,094 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $72,684 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $66,499 |
| Mathematics | $63,239 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $59,641 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $58,941 |
| Marketing | $57,940 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $57,826 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $55,316 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | $54,517 |
| Chemistry | $53,755 |
| Political Science and Government | $51,475 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $51,322 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $51,050 |
| Biology, General | $50,742 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $50,557 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $49,129 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $49,113 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $48,556 |
| Criminology | $47,387 |
| Music | $46,446 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $46,295 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $45,649 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $44,809 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $43,536 |
| Psychology, General | $43,363 |
| Journalism | $43,189 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $42,493 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $41,853 |
| History | $41,043 |
| Sociology | $40,873 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $38,631 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $37,484 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $36,336 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $32,267 |
Median earnings for these 37 University of Central Arkansas programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $45,938 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 23 additional University of Central Arkansas programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of Central Arkansas?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 940–1120 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 89.5% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University of Central Arkansas's acceptance rate?
90.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 5,961 admitted from 6,589 applicants.
How much does University of Central Arkansas cost?
In-state tuition is $10,523; out-of-state students pay $18,023. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of Central Arkansas graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $45,938 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Arkansas
- Baptist Health College Little Rock — 95.5% admitted
- Arkansas Tech University — 95.9% admitted
- University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton — 100% admitted
- Central Baptist College — 63.5% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.