University of Central Arkansas

What is the cost of studying for a year at University of Central Arkansas?

For 2025-26, reported full-time undergraduate tuition and required fees totaled about $10,523 for Arkansas residents and $18,746 for nonresidents. These are published charges before aid, not a prediction of what a particular student will pay.

• Arkansas-resident undergraduate tuition: $7,500; required fees: $3,023.
• Nonresident undergraduate tuition: $15,000; required fees: $3,023.
• Typical academic-year room and board: $10,152 combined.
• Reported books and supplies: $1,220.

Adding those 2024-25 categories yields approximately $21,895 for a resident student or $29,395 for a nonresident student living on campus. These are partial planning totals: transportation, personal expenses, and any program-specific charges are not included. Housing and meal choices can change the amount, and students should not add the room and board figure again if it is already included in a university cost-of-attendance estimate.

Financial aid can reduce the price a student pays. Reported aid figures indicate that 97% of students in the measured group received financial aid, while 40% received student loans. The reported average grant award was $9,540 among undergraduate grant recipients; an average is not an award available to every applicant. Eligible students may be considered for federal grants and loans, Arkansas aid, and UCA scholarships after completing the applicable aid and scholarship processes. Veterans and military-connected students should also ask how education benefits apply to their enrollment.

Net price includes aid and therefore differs from the published charges above. The reported average net price was $13,988 for students from families earning up to $48,000 and $16,203 for those in the next reported income band, $48,001-$75,000. Those group averages are not personalized quotes. For a usable budget, applicants need UCA's cost-of-attendance estimate for their enrollment status and residency, followed by their own financial aid offer.

What are the work-study opportunities at University of Central Arkansas?

UCA students can look for part-time employment while enrolled, and eligible students may receive Federal Work-Study as part of a financial aid offer. Work-Study is need-based student employment: it ordinarily pays wages for hours worked rather than reducing the tuition bill automatically.

Receiving a Work-Study award does not itself secure a job. Students need to find an eligible position, apply, and meet the employer's requirements. Ordinary campus jobs may have different eligibility rules, and internships may be paid, unpaid, or undertaken for academic credit. Students should distinguish those arrangements when estimating income and weekly time commitments.

UCA's career services offer support beyond student employment, including individual career counseling, résumé preparation, interview practice, job listings, career fairs, employer recruiting, and opportunities for alumni networking. These services can help students explore majors and prepare applications, but their availability is not an employment outcome or a promise of a job offer.