“One of the oldest universities in Arkansas, historically the state's primary source of teachers.”
The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) is a public university in Conway, Arkansas, founded in 1907 as the Arkansas State Normal School and elevated to university status in 1975. UCA's 356-acre campus sits in Conway, a classic Arkansas college town about 30 miles north of the state capital, Little Rock. The campus blends historic red-brick buildings around an oak-shaded quad with modern science, business, and nursing facilities; it consistently earns recognition for its tree-canopied campus walks and its sculpted fountains along "Sorority Row." UCA organizes academics across ten colleges and schools, including the College of Business, College of Education, College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, College of Fine Arts and Communication, College of Liberal Arts, and the Schulte Honors College. The university offers more than 90 undergraduate and 60+ graduate programs plus doctoral degrees in five disciplines (including Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Psychology). The Honors College is one of the largest and most respected public-university honors programs in the South and is a major draw for top in-state students. Student life is shaped by the Bears (and Sugar Bears) — UCA's NCAA Division I athletic teams competing in the United Athletic Conference, known for a strong football and basketball culture. International students benefit from the Center for Global Learning and Engagement (CGLE), which welcomed 98 new international students from 70 countries in Fall 2025 and supports roughly 400 international students annually with orientation, immigration advising, OPT/CPT processing, and community events. Downtown Conway's coffee shops, bookstores, live-music venues, and restaurants sit just outside campus, while Little Rock's metro amenities are a short drive away.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Top Public Schools
US News 2026
Test Required — All applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores.
Official SourceInternational — Fall Intake
International deadline for Fall 2026 admission.
International — Spring Intake
International deadline for Spring 2027 admission.
Rolling Admission (Domestic)
Applications open year-round; early submission encouraged for scholarships and housing.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$10,523
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$18,023
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
4 years
Direct-admit BSN with clinical placements across Conway Regional, Baptist Health, and UAMS; strong NCLEX pass rates and a clear pathway into UCA's MSN and DNP programs.
3 years
CAPTE-accredited DPT program; one of a small number of public DPT options in Arkansas, drawing students statewide.
4 years
Specialized B.B.A. track inside UCA's College of Business; one of the few dedicated insurance/risk programs in the region, with strong employer pipelines.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $18,023
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
