Moderately selectiveProfile current for 2025-2026

University of Arkansas acceptance rate and admissions profile

University of Arkansas is a public university in Arkansas that admits most qualified applicants (around 74%), which puts it in the moderately selective range. A rate like this means it admits more applicants than it rejects; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.

Use this page to see what University of Arkansas weighs, where it ranks among Arkansas schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1280, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
74%
Moderately selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1280
of admitted students
Type
Public
Arkansas
Selectivity in state
#10
of 18 in AR
Get your real chances at University of Arkansas
CollegeCalcAI computes a personalized acceptance estimate from your GPA, scores, and activities. Free, no account to start.
Open the calculator

Will I get into University of Arkansas?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Arkansas, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into University of Arkansas?

At University of Arkansas, your real chance depends on far more than the published 74% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of Arkansas in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is University of Arkansas hard to get into?

University of Arkansas is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 74% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into University of Arkansas?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Arkansas, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. University of Arkansas reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

What SAT score do you need for University of Arkansas?

University of Arkansas does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1280. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at University of Arkansas.

Calculate your chances at University of Arkansas

What University of Arkansas looks for

What University of Arkansas weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

University of Arkansas signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from University of Arkansas's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Important
Standardized test scores
Very important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
State residency
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at University of Arkansas

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at University of Arkansas
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300In the competitive admitted range
1200Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1300 SAT →Colleges for a 27 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How University of Arkansas compares in Arkansas

University of Arkansas ranks #10 most selective of 18 schools in Arkansas in our database.

Among the 18 Arkansas schools we track, University of Arkansas ranks #10 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (41%) and Philander Smith University (50%) sit nearby, which makes Arkansas a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
41%acceptance · AR
Philander Smith University
50%acceptance · AR
Hendrix College
56%acceptance · AR
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
59%acceptance · AR
Central Baptist College
63%acceptance · AR
Arkansas Baptist College
65%acceptance · AR
Ouachita Baptist University
68%acceptance · AR
Harding University
71%acceptance · AR
See all Arkansas schools →

Similar to University of Arkansas

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

If University of Arkansas is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: Southeast Missouri State University, University at Buffalo, and University of Houston. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Southeast Missouri State University
74%acceptance · MO
University at Buffalo
74%acceptance · NY
University of Houston
74%acceptance · TX
University of Nevada, Reno
74%acceptance · NV
University of New Orleans
74%acceptance · LA
Coastal Carolina University
75%acceptance · SC

Frequently asked questions

What does University of Arkansas value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, University of Arkansas weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does University of Arkansas favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, University of Arkansas generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at University of Arkansas?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of Arkansas specifically.

Is University of Arkansas test-optional?

Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm University of Arkansas's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1280; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.

How does residency affect admission to University of Arkansas?

As a public university, University of Arkansas typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.