<p>I know they have different strengths...but overall prestige. </p>
<p>I think it's funny how a lot of people don't acknowledge how good Arkansas is as a University, yet it ranks basically the exact same as Missouri and Alabama in the rankings and better than Tenn, Kentucky and Auburn. These are all well above average schools IMO and offer a five star student experience along with a great education. </p>
<p>lol…no way are LSU and USoCarolina ahead of Bama.</p>
<p>should be…</p>
<p>Vanderbilt (37th)
Florida (74th)
Texas A&M (122)
Alabama (205) tied with UGa
Auburn tied with UTenn
Missouri (208) tied with South Carolina
LSU Arkansas (209) Kentucky (257) Ole Miss Mississippi State …all tied</p>
<p>I think the top three are Vandy, Florida and aTm.</p>
<p>Kentucky and Alabama really seem to be trying to make academic strides. I thought Ole Miss was the best school in Mississippi, but I’m not sure if that’s accurate.</p>
<p>And no way is Auburn better than Arkansas. I understand you are a big fan of Alabama, but to say it’s in line with Georgia is denying all logic. I love South Carolina and Arkansas, but I’m not going to even try to say they’re better than Georgia. Georgia is far and away the better school than Alabama in academics. </p>
<p>By the way, Alabama and Arkansas are about equal in ACT scores…The lower 25% at Arkansas is higher while the top 75% is 2 points higher at Alabama. I’d put them in the same range in terms of the students they’re bringing in, but I’m bias. Alabama and Arkansas are about equal in average SAT scores too…</p>
<p>Arkansas has the same ACT averages as Missouri…</p>
<p>No way in hell Arkansas is equal to Miss. State. You have a clear anti-Arkansas bias here, not sure why, but anyone that knows academics knows Miss State is the lowest in the SEC. </p>
<p>Wait I don’t understand this…I had to google to see that SEC meant southeastern conference (I think that’s what it means?). Not sure why Clemson’s not part of that but why is South Carolina part and Clemson not? I don’t know maybe someone could explain sports to me. </p>
<p>Clemson is ranked #153 in Forbes, just to say that… I know, I know–not the SEC. </p>
<p>Okay. So… both of your references clearly show that Auburn students have higher ACT and higher SAT scores, across the board except Arkansas ties Auburn for upper 25% in math ACT. </p>
<p>US News ranks Arkansas at #128 and Auburn at #91. Not close.</p>
<p>Forbes shows it basically as a dead heat, and it is the outlier.</p>
<p>Perhaps Arkansas is as good as Auburn, but the evidence is thin.</p>
<p>I meant to say Alabama, not Auburn. They are pretty even IMO, but Arkansas is in a much prettier area with a lot more wealth and less crime. Tuscaloosa, outside the college, isn’t much to write home about. Fayetteville has been named by magazines as one of the best places for business, to retire, and raise a family. It has been called ‘America’s Best Kept Secret’ because so many that have never been to Fayetteville have no idea how incredible it is.</p>
<p>If you want to move to a place with a lot of poverty and low-income neighborhoods, Tuscaloosa is a good bet. Arkansas isn’t wealthy as a whole, but the Northwest region is. Low crime, nationally recognized High Schools, and one of the fastest growing communities in the USA – and beautiful scenery. </p>
<p>Alabama has a wonderful (GORGEOUS) campus, thriving greek scene, and electric football atmosphere. But it’s not a good post-grad destination. Because they are both so close academically, I give Arkansas the edge for the community it’s in. </p>
<p>I know Alabama attracts some nationally competitive students for it’s good merit scholarships, but it also lets in a fair share of average people. So does Arkansas. They are both neck and neck really in terms of ACT, SAT, and High School GPA’s. Alabama is a little higher in some categories, Arkansas is a little higher in others. You could go either way but I wouldn’t say Alabama is miles ahead of U of A. </p>
<p>One other thing. I go to South Carolina, so I’m not overly bias towards Arkansas. I just love it and have lots of friends there. With that said, I think people should know that Arkansas has the highest endowment per student of any college in the SEC excluding Vanderbilt. With 26,000 students compared to 32,000 at Alabama, Arkansas has almost an identical endowment. I’ve been to both schools and Arkansas has better facilities IMO. </p>
<p>Ole Miss is stronger than Mississippi State. They’re not academic equals, though MS State does have its strengths (engineering, ag, vet school, etc.).</p>
<p>It is more important to look at the upper quartile…it gives a better indication of the strength of students in STEM majors (where the high scorers tend to be more concentrated.</p>
<p>Alabama…upper quartile is ACT 31+ </p>
<p>Arkansas…upper quartile is ACT 29+</p>
<p>since over 75% of students at both schools submit the ACT, it is a good measurement to use. </p>
<br>
<br>
<p>I doubt it. However, I admit that the B-school probably has better facilities via Walmart money. I admit that I havent been to UArk for awhile, but unless it has been doing super improvements like Bama has been doing, I strongly doubt it has better overall facilities. When was the last time you toured Bama? or did you just attend a game or do a drive by? </p>
<br>
<br>
<p>Yes, it does. Bama is committed to admitting students with good grades whose test scores may not be the best, largely because they have attended rural schools, which tend to have inadequate K-12 systems. Bama is also committed to admitting a high number of AA students. Sadly, the ACT national average for AA students is 17, largely because of the inadequate K-12 schools systems they have had to attend. Bama graduates a very large number of AA students. I dont remember the stat, but very, very few flagships graduate more AA students than Bama does. </p>
<p>But again, I think a school’s strength can be better demonstrated by looking at the upper quartile’s stats…because those kids are largely concentrated in the STEM and other more difficult academic majors. Those are the students that help a school attract the better profs (who want to teach strong students), and once you have better profs all kinds of good things happen, more grant money, more research, and so forth. </p>
<p>@mom2collegekids Actually Arkansas has improved RAPIDLY. They gained 10,000 students in the last decade and the Waltons donated tons of money. There has been so much construction on campus that it’s impossible to keep up. The student body and campus is growing so fast they don’t know how to handle it. They’ve built 3 new dorms just in the last two years and completely renovated the fitness centers. </p>
<p>Coming from someone who has been to both in the last 6 months, I think my opinion has more validity. I spent several days on both campuses and it was so clear how much Arkansas has expanded. Alabama was nice too, but I liked Arkansas a lot better. </p>
<p>This from ESPN: “: The Hogs, who already had some of the best facilities in the league, are scheduled to move into their new $35 million football operations center prior to the 2013 season. They already have a full indoor practice facility, and Razorback Stadium has been touched up nicely over the years.”</p>
<p>EDIT) Arkansas also has much nicer dorms. The ones I saw were hardwood with a Star bucks on the lower floor. Alabama’s dorms had carpet and smelled poorly, but I don’t remember which one I was in. </p>
<p>I’m not ragging on Alabama. My final choices were South Carolina, Michigan State, Arkansas, and Alabama. I almost went to Bama and even decided to go there before deciding Tuscaloosa wasn’t the place for me. I LOVED UA, I just couldn’t appreciate Tuscaloosa like some others can. I still like the Crimson Tide and think it’s a fine school, I just think a lot of people don’t realize how much Arkansas has improved in the last few years and it deserves more love then it gets from people on CC. Alabama might be a better school, but Arkansas is not far behind. </p>
<p>Tuscaloosa cannot compare to Fayetteville in terms of quality living. You might love it as a college town, but Fayetteville is one of the nicest places in the country to live. </p>
<p>The only reason I picked SC over Arkansas, even though I love South Carolina, is because of the program I wanted to go into. Otherwise, Arky would’ve been my #1. </p>
I know, I know–not the SEC. </p>
