University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) vs Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
When it comes to higher education, University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) and Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (SAU) offer distinct experiences for prospective students. UCO, located in Edmond, Oklahoma, boasts a higher acceptance rate of 86% compared to SAU's 75%, making it a more accessible option. UCO's student body is more diverse, with a larger population of female students and a higher percentage of international students. On the other hand, SAU has a slightly higher graduation rate of 40% compared to UCO's 37%. Both universities offer a range of popular majors, including Business, Education, and Health Professions, but SAU also offers unique programs in Agriculture and Forestry. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences between these two institutions and make an informed decision about your academic journey.
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![]() Southern Arkansas University Main Campus |
![]() University of Central Oklahoma |
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Overview |
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Location | Magnolia, Arkansas | Edmond, Oklahoma |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 64.0% | 67.0% |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 62.6% | 81.3% |
Application fees | $25 |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$60
|
SAT range | 930 - 1140 | N/A |
ACT range | 18 - 25 | 18 - 24 |
Students submitting SAT score | 10.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 100.0% | 83.0% |
Total number of applicants | 2,813 | 8,708 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,761 | 7,080 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 632 | 1,662 |
Yield rate | 35.9% | 23.5% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$26,411
Out of state:
$31,631
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In state:
$30,788
Out of state:
$41,675
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Average net price | $14,141 | $17,477 |
Tuition |
In state:
$6,750
Out of state:
$11,970
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In state:
$6,822
Out of state:
$17,709
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,340
Meal plan:
$3,444
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Room/dormitory:
$3,990
Meal plan:
$4,550
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
98.0%
Average amount $8,861 |
76.0%
Average amount $6,531 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
50.0%
Average amount $5,247 |
34.0%
Average amount $6,109 |
Students taking out private loans |
3.0%
Average amount $8,817 |
5.0%
Average amount $11,559 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,160
Men 43.4% Women 56.6% |
11,771
Men 37.8% Women 62.2% |
Graduate students |
1,274
Men 35.2% Women 64.8% |
1,479
Men 31.1% Women 68.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 28.0% | 5.1% |
International students | 7.5% | 3.9% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,032 | 1,860 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Arkansas Texas Louisiana Oklahoma Alabama | Oklahoma Texas Kansas California Missouri |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 15:1 | 16:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 40.1% | 37.0% |
Dropout rate | 23.3% | 19.0% |
Transferred out | 35.5% | 37.9% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Physics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
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Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Health (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Master's Degrees)
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
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