Career Training Path › Arkansas › University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Fort Smith, Arkansas · Public university · Training programs available:
Address: 5210 Grand Ave, Fort Smith, AR 72913 · Phone: (479) 788-7000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is a public trade and career school in Fort Smith, Arkansas offering welding, auto mechanic, and EMT training programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, median graduate debt is $18,250 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $41,102; the campus completion rate is not reported, though the state average is 57.3%.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for University of Arkansas-Fort Smith; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid can be used here, and about 39.1% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $37,380 | $47,970 | $55,280 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $30,320 | $44,160 | $57,910 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $28,370 | $36,230 | $41,670 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $46,810 | $63,640 | $78,480 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $44,670 | $56,620 | $61,220 |
| Surgical technologists | $38,750 | $57,400 | $63,400 |
| Machinists | $37,760 | $51,140 | $61,380 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $38,620 | $52,330 | $60,940 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Arkansas (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 119 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 49 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, under 300 hours | 31 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 19 | $31,945 | $31,853 | $12,491 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 13 | $31,945 | $31,853 | $12,491 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, under 300 hours | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith is a public college in Fort Smith, Arkansas, located in a small city setting. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used at this campus (Title IV eligible). The school holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, along with several program-specific accreditors including the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Among its 11 program families, the campus awards the most completions in welding schools (123), auto mechanic schools (61), and EMT & paramedic training (31), with 274 total trade completers out of an undergraduate enrollment of 4,091.
The state average completion rate for comparable programs is 57.3%, though this campus's specific completion rate and how it compares to the state average are not reported for this campus in federal data. Graduates who took out loans carried a median debt of $18,250. Median earnings 10 years after entry were $41,102. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 39.1% of students at this campus receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of lower-income students.
This campus offers a mix of short-term trade credentials and longer academic programs spanning fields like welding, automotive repair, emergency medicine, radiology, nursing, and machining, which may suit both recent graduates and adults changing careers, depending on the specific program's length and format. Prospective students should verify current accreditation status and detailed outcome data directly through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard or by contacting the school at (479) 788-7000 or via its website.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
The campus offers 11 program families, with the most completions in welding schools (123), auto mechanic schools (61), and EMT & paramedic training (31). Other program families include radiology tech, LPN, surgical tech, CNC machining, and diesel mechanic programs.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited. Its accreditors include the Higher Learning Commission, the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school is Title IV eligible, meaning students can use federal financial aid such as FAFSA and Pell Grants. About 39.1% of students here receive Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The campus-specific completion rate and its comparison to the state average are not reported for this campus in federal data. The state average completion rate is 57.3%; contact the school or check the College Scorecard for more detail.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $18,250, per federal Scorecard data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are $41,102, per federal Scorecard data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (479) 788-7000 or visit its website for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public school, which typically means lower in-state tuition and eligibility for state-funded aid programs in addition to federal aid.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in the data provided. Contact the school directly to ask about program duration for a specific field of interest.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation and review detailed outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?108092.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers both shorter trade credentials and longer academic programs across fields like welding, automotive repair, and healthcare, which may accommodate different schedules, though specific format details are not reported here. Contact the school to discuss options for adult or part-time students.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not reported in this data. Contact the school directly to ask about licensure requirements for a specific program, such as EMT or radiology tech.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach the school by phone at (479) 788-7000 or visit its website at https://uafs.edu/ for application information.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with nearby schools is not reported for this campus in federal data. Check the College Scorecard to compare outcomes across schools in the area.
Other trade and career schools in Fort Smith, AR
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See all trade and career schools in Arkansas or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.