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University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR 4,133 Undergrads 39.8% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$18,052
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,097
After Aid
Median Earnings
$41,102
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$10,097
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$41,102
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate39.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients51.1%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time78.3%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS61.0%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
81.5%
SAT Avg
1,050
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: 18-75th: 23
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$364k
-$32k
-$120k
Median Cost$10k/yr
+$328k
-$68k
-$156k
Full Cost$18k/yr
+$299k
-$97k
-$185k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$10k/yr
Never
-430%
Full Cost$18k/yr
Never
-285%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return-386%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-131%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Associate's Degrees
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$12,491
Earnings (5yr)
$34,796
Lifetime Value Added
-$130k
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$30,737
Lifetime Value Added
-$171k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
AssocCIP: 5106
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,059
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$12,390
Earnings (5yr)
$38,059
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
AssocCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,021
Lifetime Value Added
-$68k
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$62,560
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,810
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,462
Earnings (5yr)
$51,318
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$16,416
Earnings (5yr)
$49,573
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$21,490
Earnings (5yr)
$79,556
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (5yr)
$43,544
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$24,125
Earnings (2yr)
$55,964
Lifetime Value Added
+$675
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,606
Lifetime Value Added
-$188k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$313k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Lifetime Value Added
-$319k
Graphic Communications
BachCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Lifetime Value Added
-$279k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,189
Earnings (5yr)
$43,211
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$22,938
Earnings (5yr)
$42,814
Lifetime Value Added
-$135k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,699
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (5yr)
$36,938
Lifetime Value Added
-$185k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,413
Earnings (5yr)
$73,763
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$19,652
Earnings (5yr)
$42,085
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$16,328
Earnings (5yr)
$44,674
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.