The University of Central Arkansas reported a 2.2% rise in in-state tuition fees for the 2022-23 school year, based on the latest figures released, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Arkansas residents paid $9,778 to attend the public university this year, which is $215 higher than the $9,563 charged during the 2021-22 academic year.
Non-resident students faced tuition costs 71.1% higher than those for residents in 2022-23, amounting to $16,728. This represents a 1.8% increase from the $16,433 tuition fee in the previous year.
Approximately 90% of the undergraduate body at the university are Arkansas residents, while about 8% come from other states and 2% are international students.
Data indicates that 96% of full-time undergraduates who began their studies in 2022-23 received some form of financial aid. A total of 1,671 students were awarded grants or scholarships amounting to $13.8 million, and 914 students obtained student loans exceeding $6 million.
Among all undergraduates, 6,263 students benefited from grants or scholarships totaling $58.3 million. Additionally, 3,333 students secured federal student loans totaling $25.3 million.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
The following data includes only full-time students who began an undergraduate program at the the University of Central Arkansas in the 2022-23 school year.
| Type of Aid | Number of students awarded aid | Percent awarded aid | Total amount of aid awarded | Average amount of aid per student |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal grants | 803 | 45% | $4.4 million | $5,481 |
| State / local grant or scholarship | 1,166 | 65% | $2.3 million | $1,957 |
| Institutional grants or scholarships | 1,259 | 70% | $7.2 million | $5,681 |
| Grant or scholarship aid total | 1,671 | 93% | $13.8 million | $8,280 |
| Federal student loans | 896 | 50% | $4.7 million | $5,250 |
| Other student loans | 115 | 6% | $1.3 million | $11,174 |
| Student loan aid | 914 | 51% | $6 million | $6,552 |
| Total student aid | 1,735 | 96% | $19.8 million | $11,426 |
Information in this story was obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics. The source data can be found here.
