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Fort Smith, AR 002Photo: Brandonrush · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Fort Smith

Fort Smith is home to two colleges, with 5,308 students on campus

The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (4,482 students on campus) and Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (826) are inside the city. About 5% of Fort Smith’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Arkansas (5%).

University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Fort Smith. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
2
5,308 students on campus
Nearest college
2.4 mi
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Residents in college
5%
About the same as AR (5%)
Nearest community college
53.1 mi
University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain · $3,696 tuition
Nearest public university
2.4 mi
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith · $7,334 in-state
Median household income
$55K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Fort Smith

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university in Fort SmithThe University of Arkansas-Fort Smith has 4,482 students on campus in Fort Smith, 38% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at University of Arkansas-Fort SmithLiving in Arkansas, the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith charges $7,334 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $12,182. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 53.1 miles awayUniversity of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain in Mena: tuition and fees $3,696 a year for Arkansas residents.Students are 5% of residentsAbout the same as Arkansas (5%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Fort Smith

One private college within 3.7 miles, and one public college within 2.4 miles.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Arkansas-Fort SmithArkansas Colleges of Health EducationFort Smith
University or collegeCommunity college
University of Arkansas-Fort SmithUniversity or college · Public · 4,482 on campus · In Fort Smith80%admitted$11knet price38%graduate$41kearningsArkansas Colleges of Health EducationUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 826 on campus · In Fort SmithGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Fort Smith’s median household income ($54,816) falls.

University of Arkansas-Fort SmithIn Fort Smith · sticker $19,048$11,392a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Fort Smith: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith38% graduate$41k earnings$18k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Fort Smith

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 36%Business 15%Health professions 10%Education 9%Mechanics & repair 5%Precision production 5%Everything else 20%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and Operations248 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing67 graduates a year
$74k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods41 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out
Biology, General40 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections36 graduates a year
$44k4 yrs out
Psychology, General33 graduates a year
$41k4 yrs out
Social Work30 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas21 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Fort Smith

Is Fort Smith a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Fort Smith residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Arkansas (5). The largest campus in the city, the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, has 4,482 students on campus.

What colleges are in Fort Smith?

The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and Arkansas Colleges of Health Education are inside the city. University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain is 53.1 miles away in Mena.

What is the closest community college to Fort Smith, and what does it cost?

University of Arkansas Community College Rich Mountain in Mena, 53.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $3,696 a year for Arkansas residents; the federal net price, $4,842, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith cost if we live in Arkansas?

Tuition and fees are $7,334 a year in-state and $12,182 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,890 (under $30,000 income) to $14,297 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Fort Smith. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →