Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
U. Arkansas admits about 7 in 10 applicants (74%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 56% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$40 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 71%, women at 77%.
Where applicants live
Arkansas applicants were admitted at 76%, applicants from other states at 79%, and international applicants at 12%.
All applicants in the same class: 74%
Of those admitted, 19% from Arkansas enrolled, against 52% from other states and 24% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
29% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 389 offered a place, 389 accepted, 32 admitted (8.2% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early action (not binding): apply by Nov 1; decisions by Dec 15
No early decision plan.
Where you stand
How U. Arkansas reads a record
, GPA, class rank, and tests are all very important. 62% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight. Scores are optional. 31% of first-years sent an SAT and 72% an ACT. Of the 58% whose high school reported a rank, 26% were in the top tenth. Recommends 2 years of foreign language. See the years by subject
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Very important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Very important | ||||
| Essay | Very important | ||||
| Recommendations | Very important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Not considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Very important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Very important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Very important | ||||
| First generation | Not considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Very important | ||||
| Geographic residence | Very important | ||||
| State residency | Very important | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Very important | ||||
| Work experience | Very important | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Not considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program considered; English proficiency test considered
Transferring in
51% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 74% of first-year applicants
4,326 applied · 2,211 admitted · 1,196 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall, spring, and summer.
At least 24 credits completed to apply as a transfer.
Minimum college GPA: 2.0
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: apply by August 1
- Spring entry: apply by December 15
- Summer entry: apply by May 1
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Recommended for some
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Recommended for some
- Interview
- Recommended for some
- Standardized test scores
- Recommended for some
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Priority date: November 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within 3 weeks if admitted later.
- $240 housing deposit, refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 2 years for religious service.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 4 | 4 |
| Science (lab: 1 / 1) | 3 | 3 |
| Foreign language | 0 | 2 |
| Social studies | 1 | 1 |
| History | 2 | 2 |
| Academic electives | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 16 | 18 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.83
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.035%
- 3.75–3.9927%
- 3.50–3.7421%
- 3.25–3.4913%
- 3.00–3.243%
- below 3.01%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.50–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | Sent test scores |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 35.0% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 27.0% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 21.0% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 12.7% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 2.9% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 1.3% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.0% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
26% were in the top tenth of their high school class, of the 58% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:University of Arkansas Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1130 on the SAT, 40 points below the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
53% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1000–1199.
18% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
50% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 500–599.
49% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 500–599.
21% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
10% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
Shares of the 31% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 72% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
2,170 studentssubmitted ACT
5,025 studentsAt least half of students submitted a score, so the ranges are reasonably representative.
Sources:University of Arkansas Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;University of Arkansas Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;University of Arkansas Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)