U of A vs U of K

Nestled in the vibrant city of Tucson, Arizona, the University of Arizona (UA) stands as a beacon of academic excellence, while nestled in the heart of the Bluegrass State, the University of Kentucky (UK) in Lexington offers a rich tapestry of educational opportunities. Both universities boast a diverse student body, with UA embracing a slightly larger community. While UA offers a broader range of undergraduate programs, UK excels in specific fields like engineering and agriculture. Acceptance rates vary, with UA being slightly more selective. When it comes to graduation rates, UK holds a slight edge. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between these two esteemed institutions. Dive in to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
University of Arizona logo

University of Arizona

University of Kentucky logo

University of Kentucky

Overview

Location Tucson, Arizona Lexington, Kentucky
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 84.0% 86.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 87.3% 94.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $85
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $65
SAT range 1120 - 1370 1083 - 1330
ACT range 21 - 29 22 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 13.0% 10.0%
Students submitting ACT score 19.0% 70.0%
Total number of applicants 48,065 21,695
Total number of admissions given out 41,946 20,396
Admitted students who chose to enroll 8,436 4,721
Yield rate 20.1% 23.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $30,136

Out of state: $54,658
In state: $31,690

Out of state: $50,688
Average net price $17,242 $20,043
Tuition
In state: $11,299

Out of state: $35,821
In state: $11,247

Out of state: $30,245
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,400

Meal plan: $5,050
Room/dormitory: $9,650

Meal plan: $4,536
Available payment plans
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

92.0%
Average amount $13,790
92.0%
Average amount $11,623
Students receiving federal student loan 24.0%
Average amount $4,845
41.0%
Average amount $5,177
Students taking out private loans 3.0%
Average amount $20,814
9.0%
Average amount $19,204

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 37,434
Men 44.3% Women 55.7%
21,900
Men 43.1% Women 56.9%
Graduate students 10,840
Men 44.5% Women 55.5%
8,490
Men 37.7% Women 62.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 48.8% N/A
International students 6.5% 4.0%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 7,036 7,294
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Arizona California Washington Illinois Colorado Ohio Illinois Georgia Tennessee

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 64.3% 68.2%
Dropout rate 14.3% 30.6%
Transferred out 19.6% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Physics (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,673
  • Year 2: $123,527
  • Year 3: $127,192
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,426
  • Year 2: $117,473
  • Year 3: $122,962
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,630
  • Year 2: $103,746
  • Year 3: $104,908
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,116
  • Year 2: $83,388
  • Year 3: $98,461
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $91,677
  • Year 2: $92,743
  • Year 3: $98,271
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $84,653
  • Year 3: $96,308
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $89,806
  • Year 2: $75,518
  • Year 3: $89,884
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,657
  • Year 2: $73,035
  • Year 3: $87,557
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,627
  • Year 2: $79,199
  • Year 3: $86,387
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,284
  • Year 2: $74,953
  • Year 3: $83,742
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $106,223
  • Year 2: $114,892
  • Year 3: $134,605
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $81,971
  • Year 2: $114,730
  • Year 3: $122,422
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $101,348
  • Year 2: $116,083
  • Year 3: $111,861
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $99,330
  • Year 2: $92,277
  • Year 3: $102,019
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,048
  • Year 2: $93,555
  • Year 3: $98,399
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $83,128
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,062
  • Year 2: $62,260
  • Year 3: $78,282
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,632
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $76,500
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,089
  • Year 2: $70,512
  • Year 3: $74,487
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,465
  • Year 2: $68,666
  • Year 3: $72,801

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
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