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University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR 4,091 Undergrads 43.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$19,048
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,574
After Aid
Median Earnings
$49,998
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$10,574
Peer Midpoint: $9,847
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$49,998
Peer Midpoint: $50,127.5
Graduation Rate43.2%
Peer Midpoint: 34.6%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients51.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time78.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS61.0%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
80.5%
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
+$532k
+$17k
+$48k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$513k
-$3k
+$29k
Full Cost$19k/yr
+$497k
-$18k
+$13k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
38
147%
Full Cost$19k/yr
48
37%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return178%
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-6%
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
Certificates
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
CertCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,440
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
CertCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,681
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Software and Media Applications
CertCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,400
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,027
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
CertCIP: 5218
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,001
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,702
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
CertCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,631
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
CertCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,689
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,586
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Associate's Degrees
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
AssocCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$12,491
Earnings (4yr)
$58,435
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
AssocCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,733
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$31,742
Natl Median: $37,587
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Computer Software and Media Applications
AssocCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,737
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
AssocCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,706
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$38,059
Natl Median: $55,895
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 4701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,241
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, General
AssocCIP: 1401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,794
Natl Median: $72,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$269k
Legal Support Services
AssocCIP: 2203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,669
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$12,390
Earnings (4yr)
$35,639
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Mechanics and Repairers, General
AssocCIP: 4700
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,973
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
AssocCIP: 3099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$41,021
Natl Median: $50,491
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
AssocCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $37,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bachelor's Degrees
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,074
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$19,462
Earnings (4yr)
$48,712
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$16,416
Earnings (4yr)
$50,020
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,817
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$35,760
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$190k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$21,490
Earnings (4yr)
$82,688
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Computer Software and Media Applications
BachCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,894
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$18,500
Earnings (4yr)
$43,509
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$124k
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5106
Median Debt
$24,125
Earnings (4yr)
$65,470
Natl Median: $68,061
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,606
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$189k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $84,599
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,824
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$314k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$20,140
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$321k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Graphic Communications
BachCIP: 1003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$24,421
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
-$281k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,189
Earnings (4yr)
$45,097
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$22,938
Earnings (4yr)
$37,641
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$174k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$21,000
Earnings (4yr)
$40,519
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$149k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,413
Earnings (4yr)
$73,708
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,471
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$18,363
Earnings (4yr)
$45,275
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$19,652
Earnings (4yr)
$44,197
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$118k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$16,328
Earnings (4yr)
$45,378
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$108k
Master's Degrees
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Other Programs
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
DegCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,308
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.