University of Arkansas at Little Rock vs McNeese State University

Side-by-side comparison across admissions, costs, outcomes, campus life, and more. Data from US Department of Education.

πŸ’°
Best Value
McNeese State University
Lower Net Price
πŸ’Ό
High Earners
McNeese State University
Higher 10yr Salary
πŸ†
Most Selective
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Harder to get in
πŸŽ“
Graduation
McNeese State University
Higher success
Admissions Difficulty
Acceptance Rate
57.7%
67.5%
Avg SAT Score
1,049
1,080
SAT Range (25th–75th)
890 – 1170
810 – 1120
Avg ACT Score
22
22
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 23
18 – 24
Cost & Financial Aid
Avg Net Price
$16,136
$11,257
Tuition (In-State)
$8,455
$8,460
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$19,210
$9,960
Pell Grant Rate % students receiving Pell Grants
41.0%
31.1%
Federal Loan Rate
37.6%
30.9%
Career Outcomes
Median Salary (10yr)
$45,265
$46,453
Graduation Rate
41.7%
49.4%
Retention Rate Freshmen who return for 2nd year
71.5%
70.8%
Campus Life
Total Enrollment
4,740
4,846
Undergrad Enrollment
7,132
6,280
Type
Public
Public
Setting
Urban
Urban

πŸ“‹ Report Cards

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Academics
C
Value
A-
Admissions
C
Diversity
A-

McNeese State University

Academics
C
Value
A-
Admissions
C
Diversity
B-

βš–οΈ Expert Analysis

University of Arkansas at Little Rock and McNeese State University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: University of Arkansas at Little Rock is more selective with a 57.7% acceptance rate compared to McNeese State University's 67.5%. Average SAT scores are 1049 and 1080 respectively.

Cost: McNeese State University offers a lower average net price at $11,257, which is $4,879 less than University of Arkansas at Little Rock ($16,136). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from McNeese State University earn a median salary of $46,453 ten years after enrollment, which is $1,188 more than University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduates ($45,265).

Graduation: McNeese State University leads with a 49.4% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 71.5% vs 70.8%.

Campus Size: McNeese State University is the larger campus with 4,846 total students, while University of Arkansas at Little Rock has 4,740.

Bottom Line: McNeese State University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates β€” making it the stronger value proposition overall.

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