University of South Florida (USF) vs University of Central Arkansas (UCA)

When it comes to higher education, the University of South Florida (USF) and the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) stand out as two distinct institutions with unique offerings. USF, located in the vibrant city of Tampa, Florida, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of academic programs, while UCA, nestled in the historic city of Conway, Arkansas, offers a more intimate learning environment and a strong focus on undergraduate education. With acceptance rates of 48% and 79%, respectively, both universities provide accessible pathways to higher education. While USF excels in popular majors like business, engineering, and health sciences, UCA shines in fields such as education, nursing, and social work. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these universities, including student demographics, graduation rates, and more, to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
University of Central Arkansas logo

University of Central Arkansas

University of South Florida logo

University of South Florida

Overview

Location Conway, Arkansas Tampa, Florida
Campus setting City: Small City: 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 71.0% 90.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 92.4% 49.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $25

Graduate: $45
Undergraduate: $30

Graduate: $30
SAT range 980 - 1160 1140 - 1330
ACT range 19 - 26 24 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 3.0% 70.0%
Students submitting ACT score 94.0% 30.0%
Total number of applicants 6,057 50,352
Total number of admissions given out 5,595 24,863
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,854 6,279
Yield rate 33.1% 25.3%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $25,219

Out of state: $32,089
In state: $21,812

Out of state: $32,726
Average net price $14,042 $11,419
Tuition
In state: $6,870

Out of state: $13,740
In state: $4,559

Out of state: $15,473
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,326

Meal plan: $3,570
Room/dormitory: $8,328

Meal plan: $4,240
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

92.0%
Average amount $7,693
98.0%
Average amount $9,965
Students receiving federal student loan 51.0%
Average amount $5,106
20.0%
Average amount $6,281
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $10,426
2.0%
Average amount $11,370

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 8,244
Men 39.0% Women 61.0%
38,011
Men 43.2% Women 56.8%
Graduate students 1,861
Men 26.6% Women 73.4%
11,697
Men 38.6% Women 61.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 7.9% 14.9%
International students 3.8% 9.4%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Large
Dormitory capacity 3,675 7,468
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Arkansas Texas Oklahoma Tennessee Alabama Florida New Jersey New York Illinois Pennsylvania

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 22:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 49.4% 74.6%
Dropout rate 19.1% 13.4%
Transferred out 29.7% 10.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,284
  • Year 2: $92,358
  • Year 3: $96,070
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,491
  • Year 2: $70,736
  • Year 3: $76,640
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,696
  • Year 2: $67,548
  • Year 3: $65,753
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,174
  • Year 2: $58,842
  • Year 3: $59,396
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,787
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $57,030
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,827
  • Year 2: $52,107
  • Year 3: $55,240
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,080
  • Year 2: $45,305
  • Year 3: $52,677
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,462
  • Year 2: $47,729
  • Year 3: $52,542
Library Science, Other (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,140
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $49,838
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,755
  • Year 2: $48,432
  • Year 3: $49,837
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $105,372
  • Year 2: $111,992
  • Year 3: $120,368
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,164
  • Year 2: $109,459
  • Year 3: $115,008
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,251
  • Year 2: $97,850
  • Year 3: $102,723
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $86,867
  • Year 3: $100,013
Computer Systems Analysis (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,308
  • Year 2: $87,604
  • Year 3: $99,399
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,147
  • Year 2: $84,100
  • Year 3: $90,501
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,332
  • Year 2: $73,949
  • Year 3: $82,432
Medical Illustration and Informatics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,033
  • Year 2: $73,321
  • Year 3: $81,165
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,306
  • Year 2: $68,727
  • Year 3: $79,275
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,711
  • Year 2: $66,566
  • Year 3: $79,114

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs Arkansas State University Arkansas State University
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs Arkansas Tech University Arkansas Tech University
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs University of Arkansas at Monticello University of Arkansas at Monticello
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs Ouachita Baptist University Ouachita Baptist University
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs University of Northern Colorado University of Northern Colorado
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs Columbus State University Columbus State University
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs Eastern Kentucky University Eastern Kentucky University
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs Southeastern Louisiana University Southeastern Louisiana University
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs Winona State University Winona State University
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs University of Nebraska at Kearney University of Nebraska at Kearney
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs Stockton University Stockton University
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs Western Carolina University Western Carolina University
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs Northeastern State University Northeastern State University
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs Lee University Lee University
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs Sam Houston State University Sam Houston State University
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs Texas Woman's University Texas Woman's University
University of Central Arkansas UCA vs Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Gulf Coast University
University of South Florida USF vs Auburn University at Montgomery Auburn University at Montgomery
University of South Florida USF vs Jacksonville State University Jacksonville State University
University of South Florida USF vs Troy University Troy University
University of South Florida USF vs Arkansas State University Arkansas State University
University of South Florida USF vs University of Central Arkansas University of Central Arkansas
University of South Florida USF vs Henderson State University Henderson State University
University of South Florida USF vs San Diego State University San Diego State University
University of South Florida USF vs Walden University Walden University
University of South Florida USF vs University of Central Florida University of Central Florida
University of South Florida USF vs Florida Atlantic University Florida Atlantic University
University of South Florida USF vs Florida International University Florida International University
University of South Florida USF vs Florida State University Florida State University
University of South Florida USF vs Warner University Warner University
University of South Florida USF vs The University of West Florida The University of West Florida
University of South Florida USF vs University of Hawaii at Manoa University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of South Florida USF vs Iowa State University Iowa State University
University of South Florida USF vs University of Louisville University of Louisville
University of South Florida USF vs Grambling State University Grambling State University
University of South Florida USF vs Nicholls State University Nicholls State University
University of South Florida USF vs University of Louisiana at Lafayette University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of South Florida USF vs University of Missouri-St Louis University of Missouri-St Louis
University of South Florida USF vs University of Nevada-Las Vegas University of Nevada-Las Vegas
University of South Florida USF vs University of New Mexico-Main Campus University of New Mexico-Main Campus
University of South Florida USF vs Kent State University at Kent Kent State University at Kent
University of South Florida USF vs Temple University Temple University
University of South Florida USF vs University of Memphis University of Memphis
University of South Florida USF vs University of Houston University of Houston
University of South Florida USF vs The University of Texas at Arlington The University of Texas at Arlington
University of South Florida USF vs Texas Tech University Texas Tech University
University of South Florida USF vs Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University
University of South Florida USF vs South University-Tampa South University-Tampa
University of South Florida USF vs DeVry University-Florida DeVry University-Florida
University of South Florida USF vs Florida Polytechnic University Florida Polytechnic University