Louisiana State University-Alexandria vs University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

Louisiana State University-Alexandria and University of Arkansas-Fort Smith are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is more selective with a 81.5% acceptance rate compared to Louisiana State University-Alexandria's 92.6%. Average SAT scores are 1048 and 1050 respectively.

Cost: Louisiana State University-Alexandria offers a lower average net price at $8,365, which is $1,732 less than University of Arkansas-Fort Smith ($10,097). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Louisiana State University-Alexandria earn a median salary of $42,205 ten years after enrollment, which is $1,103 more than University of Arkansas-Fort Smith graduates ($41,102).

Graduation: University of Arkansas-Fort Smith leads with a 39.5% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 67.8% vs 71.6%.

Campus Size: Louisiana State University-Alexandria is the larger campus with 4,414 total students, while University of Arkansas-Fort Smith has 4,133.

Bottom Line: Louisiana State University-Alexandria stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.