University of Arkansas-Fort Smith — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith charges a net price of $10,574/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $21,148. Median earnings ten years after entry are $41,102, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith does not clear its cost — it ranks #15 of 47 Arkansas colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $10,574/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $21,148 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $41,102 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$7,258/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $18,250 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$166,308 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of Arkansas-Fort Smith's own numbers. Net price $10,574 × 2 years = $21,148 total. Median earnings $41,102 fall $7,258 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $21,148 bill in about 2.1 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do University of Arkansas-Fort Smith students graduate with?
A median $18,250 in federal loans among completers, or 44% of the $41,102 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of Arkansas-Fort Smith students graduate?
38% finish their degree — 62% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $21,148 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $55,653 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of Arkansas-Fort Smith expensive compared with other Arkansas colleges?
Its $10,574 net price runs $1,792 below the $12,366 median across the 47 Arkansas colleges we profile, and $3,584 less across the full degree.