School Overview
The University of Central Arkansas (UCA), located in Conway, Arkansas, is the fourth largest university in Arkansas, the third largest college system in Arkansas, and one of the larger universities in the United States. This state-run higher education institution has several distinctions and honors that make it stand out from the pack. For starters, the university runs a prestigious UCA Honors College which has received national recognition for its excellence. The Carnegie Foundation stated that the UCA Honors College was one of the most widely imitated programs in the country. The former U.S. Secretary of Education, Terrell Bell, described the Honors College as an Ivy League education at a bargain basement price. Small classes, high SAT and ACT scores, URGE and TAG grants for students, distinguished faculty, and amazing graduate school and medical school admission rates are also trademarks of UCA.
Rankings
In 2006, U.S. News & World Report ranked UCA 61st for academic excellence in the South. That was the first year UCA ranked and it was the only public university in Arkansas to be ranked in that category. In 2009, the U.S. News & World Report America’s Best Colleges ranked UCA 54th in Master’s Universities in the South. Finally, UCA ranked 23rd for the Top Public Schools in Master’s Universities in the South.
Degree Programs and Colleges
Beyond these honors, UCA is also highly respected for its programs in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Education. The university is home to four Residential Colleges and several other reputable colleges. Altogether UCA colleges offers over 80 undergraduate majors. UCA colleges include: the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Fine Arts and Communications, the College of Education, and the College of Business.
Athletics
Men’s athletic teams are known as the Bears and women’s are known as the Sugar Bears. The Bears and Sugar Bears play in the NCAA at the Division I level as a member of the Southland Conference, with 14 varsity sports involving more than 400 student athletes.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
UCA offers an array of resources to help students defray costs: loans, grants, scholarships and work-study opportunities. All financial aid applicants must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Library System
The Torreyson Library’s stated mission is to serve as the center for illectual life at the university, inviting all community members to take advantage of its resources. Its electronic database offers quick access to all library materials.
Student Housing
There are three residential clusters. Cluster One is made up of Hughes Hall, Arkansas Hall, Short/Denney Hall, State Hall and Farris Hall. Cluster Two is comprised of Bear Hall, New Hall, Baridon Hall, Western Heights Apartments, Stadium Park Apartments and Bear Village Apartments. Cluster Three is made up of Bernard Hall, Carmichael Hall, Conway Hall, Erbach Apartments, Oak Tree Apartments, Torreyson Apartments and Baldridge Family Housing Apartments.
General Information
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Admission Office 201 Donaghey Avenue Bernard 101 Conway, AR 72035 (501) 450-3128 (800) 243-8245 Fax: (501) 450-5228 [email protected] Contact: Melissa Goff Director of Institutional Research & Admissions |
Main Address 201 Donaghey Avenue Conway, AR 72035 (501) 450-5000 www.uca.edu |
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Size Total undergrads: 11,047 First-time degree-seeking freshmen: 2,111 Degree-seeking undergrads: 9,669 Graduate enrollment: 1,926 Setting |
Degrees offered: Associate Bachelor’s Master’s Doctoral |
Admissions Information
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Application Fee College has an application fee: No |
Enrollment Rates Percent applicants admitted: 58% Percent of students who return for sophomore year: 72% |
College Majors
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Area, Ethnic, Cultural, & Gender Studies African-American Studies B Arts, Visual & Performing Biological & Biomedical Sciences Business, Management, & Marketing Communications & Journalism Computer & Information Sciences Education English Language & Literature Family & Consumer Sciences Foreign Language & Literature Health Professions & Clinical Sciences History Mathematics Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies Natural Resources & Conservation Parks, Recreation & Fitness Philosophy & Religion Physical Sciences Psychology Public Administration & Services Social Sciences |
Degree levels for each major are designated by the following letters:
A = Associate degree
B = Bachelor’s degree C = Certificate or diploma |
*We do not guarantee the accuracy of information on this page. All information is subject to change. You should confirm all information with a college admissions officer.
University of Central Arkansas Highlights
School Information
| Phone Number: | (501) 450-5000 |
| Website: | www.uca.edu |
| Type of School: | 4-year, Public |
| Apply Online: | uca.edu/admissions/apply |
| Address: | 201 Donaghey Ave, Conway, AR 72035-0001 |
| Setting: | City: Small |
| Campus Housing: | Yes |
Students & Programs
| Student Population: | 10,869 |
| 6-yr Graduation Rate (Bachelor's): | 41% |
| Student-to-faculty Ratio: | 16 to 1 |
| Distance Learning Programs: | Yes |
| Distance Learning Students*: | 6,306 (58% of total students) |
| Degree Levels Offered: | Certificates, Associates, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate |
* Students taking at least 1 distance learning course
Tuition & Financial Aid*
| In-state Tuition: | $9,188 |
| Out-of-state Tuition: | $15,998 |
| % of Students Receiving Financial Aid: | 98% |
| Avg. Amount of Grant or Scholarship Aid Awarded: | $7,623 |
* Full-time beginning undergraduate students. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
University of Central Arkansas Programs
See the degree programs that are offered at University of Central Arkansas.
| Degree Name | Cert | Assoc | Bach | Mast | Doct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group Studies | 1 | ||||
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences | 1 | 1 | |||
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services | 10 | 2 | |||
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs | 3 | ||||
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services | 3 | 1 | |||
| Education | 5 | 7 | 8 | ||
| Engineering | 2 | ||||
| English Language and Literature/Letters | 3 | 2 | |||
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | 2 | 2 | |||
| Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 2 | 1 | |||
| Health Professions and Related Programs | 1 | 10 | 5 | 2 | |
| History | 1 | 1 | |||
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and Related Protective Service | 4 | 2 | |||
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 1 | 2 | |||
| Library Science | 1 | ||||
| Mathematics and Statistics | 1 | 2 | |||
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 4 | 1 | |||
| Natural Resources and Conservation | 1 | ||||
| Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies | 1 | 2 | |||
| Philosophy and Religious Studies | 2 | ||||
| Physical Sciences | 2 | ||||
| Psychology | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions | 1 | 1 | |||
| Social Sciences | 1 | 6 | 1 | ||
| Visual and Performing Arts | 1 | 6 | 2 | ||
| Grand total | 13 | 3 | 72 | 33 | 5 |
* Based on programs that produced 2019-2020 graduates
Tuition & Financial Aid
See what it costs to enroll at University of Central Arkansas and how many students are receiving scholarships, grants, or loans as financial aid to help cover the costs of tuition.
Undergraduate Student Tuition
Average tuition and fees for academic year:
| Tuition and Fees | 2019-2020 |
|---|---|
| In-state | $9,188 |
| Out-of-state | $15,998 |
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
Graduate Student Tuition
Average tuition and fees for academic year:
| Tuition and Fees | 2019-2020 |
|---|---|
| In-state | $6,539 |
| Out-of-state | $11,558 |
Undergraduate Student Financial Aid, 2018-2019
Full-time Beginning Undergraduate Students
| Type of Aid | Number Receiving Aid | % Receiving Aid | Avg. Amt. of Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any student financial aid | 1,983 | 98% | – |
| Grant or scholarship aid | 1,933 | 96% | $7,623 |
| Student loan aid | 1,107 | 55% | $8,963 |
All Undergraduate Students
| Type of Aid | Number Receiving Aid | % Receiving Aid | Avg. Amt. of Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant or scholarship aid | 7,939 | 84% | $8,116 |
| Federal student loans | 4,443 | 47% | $8,258 |
Admissions & Enrollment
See the admission requirements for University of Central Arkansas. Find out how many students apply and how many are accepted. View a graphical breakdown of the gender, age, and ethnicity of currently enrolled University of Central Arkansas students.
Undergraduate Admissions, Fall 2020
| Total | Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of applicants | 5,397 | 1,949 | 3,448 | Percent admitted | 100% | 88% | 92% |
| Percent admitted who enrolled | 34% | 35% | 33% |
Admissions Considerations
| Required | Recommended | Optional | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary school GPA | |||
| Secondary school rank | |||
| Secondary school record | |||
| Completion of college-preparatory program | |||
| Recommendations | |||
| Formal demonstration of competencies | |||
| Admission test scores | |||
| Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.) | |||
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language |
University of Central Arkansas Enrollment, Fall 2020
| Total Enrollment | 10,869 |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate enrollment | 9,134 |
| Graduate enrollment | 1,735 |
Undergraduate Attendance
Undergraduate Gender
Undergraduate Age
Undergraduate Race/Ethnicity
Undergraduate Distance Education
Undergraduates taking 100%, Some, or No Distance Education
Graduate Distance Education
Graduate students taking 100%, Some, or No Distance Education
University of Central Arkansas Accreditation
This institution is accredited by Higher Learning Commission
Specialized institution accreditations:
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Dietetics (DIETI) - Dietetic Internship
- Didactic Program in Dietetics
- American Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
- Occupational Therapy (OTM) - Programs leading to a Master's Degree
- Occupational Therapy (OTD) - Programs leading to a Doctoral Degree
- Occupational Therapy (OTD) - Programs leading to a Doctoral Degree
- American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
- Physical Therapy (PT) - Professional programs for the physical therapist
- American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation
- Counseling Psychology (COPSY) - PhD Doctoral programs
- School Psychology (SCPSY) - PhD Doctoral programs
- American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
- Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) - Graduate degree programs
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the baccalaureate degree levels
- Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the graduate degree levels
- Nursing (CNDNP) - Nursing education programs at the doctorate degree levels
- National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation
- Art and Design (ART) - Degree-granting schools and departments and non-degree-granting programs
- National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation
- Music (MUS) - Institutions and units within institutions offering degree-granting and/or non-degree-granting programs
- National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission on Accreditation
- Theatre (THEA) - Institutions and units within institutions offering degree-granting and/or non-degree-granting programs
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
- Teacher Education (TED) - Baccalaureate and graduate programs for the preparation of teachers and other professional personnel for elementary and secondary schools
*General information for this school has been gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) database, a service provided by the U.S. Department of Education. CollegeAtlas.org does not guarantee the accuracy of information on this page. All information is subject to change. You should confirm all information with a college admissions officer.
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