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South Arkansas College

Public Associate Good 59/100

South Arkansas College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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El Dorado, Arkansas

About South Arkansas College

South Arkansas College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in El Dorado, Arkansas. It enrolls 862 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: southark.edu

Acceptance: Open
Graduation: 27.7%
Net Price: $7,486
Median Earnings (10yr): $34,521
Enrollment: 862
Student : Faculty: 13:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

59/100

UCD Score · 2-Year

Outcomes 17

Value 62

Affordability 63

Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, South Arkansas College generally admits all qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

Open

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending South Arkansas College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $7,486 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$7,486

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

41%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

17%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $3,324
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $5,532
Room & Board (on-campus): $9,555
Room & Board (off-campus): $9,555
Books & Supplies: $2,600
Other Expenses (on-campus): $7,122
Other Expenses (off-campus): $7,122
Total Cost of Attendance: $12,932

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$6,690
$30,001 – $48,000

$6,041
$48,001 – $75,000

$8,640
$75,001 – $110,000

$11,305
Over $110,000

$12,932

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,827

10% percentile

$3,467

25% percentile

$11,153

Median percentile

$14,767

75% percentile

$27,867

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $7,349 ↓ $3,804

No Pell $6,000 ↓ $5,153

Dependent students $5,500 ↓ $5,653

Independent students $8,952 ↓ $2,201

Female students $7,250 ↓ $3,903

Male students $5,989 ↓ $5,164

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($11,153), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

28% of full-time students who enrolled at South Arkansas College graduate within six years, and 55% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

28%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

55%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered South Arkansas College earn a median of $34,521 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$34,521

Earning > $25K

61%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$28,700

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$43,500

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $14,800, about 34% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

What this means: Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$4.6 of median earnings 10 years out.

Who Studies Here

South Arkansas College is home to 862 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 54% are first-generation college students, 55% study part-time.

Total Enrolled

862

Part-Time

55%

First-Generation

54%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 46.6% 402

Black 40.4% 348

Hispanic 6.7% 58

Other 4.3% 37

International 1.2% 10

Asian 0.4% 3

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at South Arkansas College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Town: Remote El Dorado, Arkansas

Housing

Commuter campus No on-campus housing

Adult Learners

32% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

South Arkansas College offers a varied set of programs: 31 distinct programs across 12 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

9 Programs

Health

Health Sciences $61K ($43K–$82K)
Allied Health Diagnostic $71K ($51K–$96K)
Practical Nursing $39K ($22K–$72K)

2 Programs

Precision Production

2 Programs

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)
Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

3 Programs

Business

Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business & Management, Other $70K ($48K–$96K)

2 Programs

Computer Science

Information Systems $92K ($64K–$128K)
Computer Software & Media $59K ($36K–$88K)

2 Programs

Engineering Tech

Industrial Production Tech $81K ($61K–$99K)
Industrial Production Tech $81K ($61K–$99K)

2 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Film & Video Production $44K ($26K–$63K)
Film & Video Production $44K ($26K–$63K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at South Arkansas College is 13:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

13:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$6,239

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$3.2M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$46,559

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

41 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	8	20%	$57,460
Associate Professors	4	10%	$49,587
Assistant Professors	2	5%	$41,799
Instructors	27	66%	$44,292

Pros & Cons of South Arkansas College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how South Arkansas College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
Low typical debt at graduation

CONS

Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel

Best for: Based on the data, South Arkansas College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about South Arkansas College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about South Arkansas College.

Is South Arkansas College hard to get into?

South Arkansas College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.

What is the acceptance rate at South Arkansas College?

South Arkansas College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

How much does South Arkansas College cost?

The average net price after aid at South Arkansas College is $7,486 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is South Arkansas College worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $34,521 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,486 per year. That's roughly 4.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is South Arkansas College known for?

South Arkansas College is best known for its programs in Precision Metal Working, Health Sciences, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do South Arkansas College graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering South Arkansas College are $34,521, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is South Arkansas College accredited?

Yes. South Arkansas College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend South Arkansas College?

South Arkansas College enrolls 862 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at South Arkansas College?

South Arkansas College graduates 28% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is South Arkansas College a public or private college?

South Arkansas College is a Public institution.

Where is South Arkansas College located?

South Arkansas College is located in El Dorado, Arkansas.

What programs does South Arkansas College offer?

South Arkansas College offers 31 distinct programs. The most popular include Precision Metal Working, Health Sciences, Liberal Arts.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at South Arkansas College?

The student-to-faculty ratio at South Arkansas College is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.