University of Central Arkansas
Conway, Arkansas · Public · 7,762 undergraduates · uca.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
89%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
910 to 1170
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$32,140Est.Estimate
$40,480 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at University of Central Arkansas
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
89% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$40,480
a year in 2027-28, from a $40,480 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1040
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (1040).
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- If your GPA is below 3.0, you must send a score.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
- CLT accepted as an equivalent to ACT/SAT. Students admitted without scores must submit ACT/SAT/CLT or Accuplacer scores for placement before registration.
Source: Freshman - Admissions · Checked October 17, 2026
Who gets in
89%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 910 to 1170
Reading and Writing 480 to 590
Math 430 to 580
ACT composite 19 to 25
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$32,140
a year, in state
$40,480
a year, out of state (tuition $20,050)
- Tuition (in state)$11,710
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$14,394
- $30,001 to $48,000$14,404
- $48,001 to $75,000$15,095
- $75,001 to $110,000$18,724
- Over $110,000$23,158
Financial aidEstimate
95%
of freshmen receive grants
$8,901
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Arkansas programs for residents
Arkansas Governor's Distinguished Scholarship
$10,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.50+ GPA, 1410+ SAT or 32+ ACT, Single tier; Graduating HS senior; FAFSA; apply by March 1; 12 hrs first semester then 15/semester at one institution
Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship (traditional students)
$2,000 to $5,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.00+ GPA, Pathway: HS GPA 3.00 or higher (test score on record, no minimum); Standardized test score (ACT, SAT, Accuplacer or equivalent) on record; FAFSA; apply by July 1; full-time enrollment
- 990+ SAT or 19+ ACT, Pathway: HS GPA below 3.00 with qualifying test score; FAFSA; apply by July 1; enroll full-time (12 hrs first fall, 15/semester after)
Arkansas Governor's Scholars Program (Achievement)
$5,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- Pathway: highest-scoring student in county (ACT/SAT + GPA + class rank); Top-scoring eligible student in county by ACT or SAT score, cumulative GPA and class rank; must apply for Academic Challenge to be considered; FAFSA; deadline July 1, an application, essay or interview
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
29 of 29
Earn credit with a score of 3
29 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,170Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art History | 3 | ART 2300 | |
| Art History | 4 | ART 2335 | |
| Art History | 5 | ART 2335 & elective | |
| Biology | 3 | BIOL 1400 | |
| Biology | 4 | BIOL 1440 | |
| Biology | 5 | BIOL 1440 and BIOL 1441 | |
| Calculus AB | 3 | MATH 1496 | |
| Calculus BC | 3 | MATH 1496 and MATH 1497 | |
| Chemistry | 3 | CHEM 1400 | |
| Chemistry | 4 | CHEM 1450 | |
| Chemistry | 5 | CHEM 1450 and CHEM 1451 | |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | CHIN 2310 | |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | CHIN 2320 | |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 5 | CHIN 3300/ CHIN 3303 | |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | PSCI 2320 | |
| Computer Science A | 3 | CSCI 1300 / CSCI 1470 | |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | CSCI 1300/CSCI 1340 | |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | WRTG 1310 | |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | WRTG 1310 and WRTG 1320 | |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | ENGL 1350 | |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | FREN 2310 | |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | FREN 2320 | |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | FREN 3300 | |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | GERM 2310 | |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | GERM 2320 | |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | GERM 3300 | |
| Human Geography | 3 | GEOG 1320 | |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | JAPN 2310 | |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | JAPN 2320 | |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | ECON 2320 | |
| Microeconomics | 3 | ECON 2321 | |
| Music Theory | 3 | MUS 2300/MUS 1300 | |
| Music Theory | 4 | MUS 2300/ MUS 1230 | |
| Music Theory | 5 | MUS 2300/MUS 1230 & MUS 1231 | |
| Physics 1 | 3 | PHYS 1410 | |
| Physics 2 | 3 | PHYS 1420 | |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | PHYS 1442 | |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | PHYS 1441 | |
| Psychology | 3 | PSYC 1300 | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | SPAN 2310 | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | SPAN 2320 | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | SPAN 3300 | |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | SPAN 2320 | |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | SPAN 3300 | |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 5 | SPAN 3320 or 3321 | |
| Statistics | 3 | MATH 2311 | |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | PSCI 1330 | |
| United States History | 3 | HIST 2302 | |
| United States History | 5 | HIST 2301 & 2302 | |
| World History: Modern | 3 | HIST 1320 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
54%
Come back for a second year
73%
Typical earnings
$49,756
a year, 10 years after starting here
- University of Central Arkansas$48,159
- All colleges$54,104
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 36 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with University of Central Arkansas.