Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Magnolia, Arkansas. It enrolls 2,708 students (a mid-sized 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.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). 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
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes26
Value62
Affordability80
Selectivity38
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 75.3%, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
75.3%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
875 – 1105
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
17 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyRequiredSAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
1.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Southern Arkansas University Main Campus 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 $14,027 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,027
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
48%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
63%
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)
$9,960
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$15,690
Room & Board (on-campus)
$7,911
Room & Board (off-campus)
$7,911
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,682
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,446
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,951
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
$13,187
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,827
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,790
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,654
Over $110,000
$19,244
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.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$18,750Medianpercentile
$18,50075%percentile
$28,89790%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 $14,000
↓ $4,750
No Pell $10,250
↓ $8,500
Dependent students $12,000
↓ $6,750
Independent students $17,818
↓ $932
Female students $13,161
↓ $5,589
Male students $12,000
↓ $6,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,808, less than completers ($18,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
42% of full-time students who enrolled at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduate within six years, and 68% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
42%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
68%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Southern Arkansas University Main Campus earn a median of $42,386 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,386
Earning > $25K
69%
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
$34,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$44,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$45,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,500, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↑
0.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 70% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is home to 2,708 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 42% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
2,708
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
42%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 63.1%1,709
Black 22.7%615
Other 6.1%166
Hispanic 5.8%157
International 1.4%39
Asian 0.6%16
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteMagnolia, Arkansas
Housing
Strongly residential2,141 beds for 2,708 students
Adult Learners
8%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
53 distinct programs across
20 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,607
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$56M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$66,193
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
158 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
24
15%
$91,930
Associate Professors
50
32%
$67,669
Assistant Professors
45
28%
$64,885
Instructors
39
25%
$49,971
Pros & Cons of Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Southern Arkansas University Main Campus tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Southern Arkansas University Main Campus.
Is Southern Arkansas University Main Campus hard to get into?
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 75.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 75.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus scored between 875 and 1105 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus scored between 17 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Southern Arkansas University Main Campus cost?
The average net price after aid at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is $14,027 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Southern Arkansas University Main Campus worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,386 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,027 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southern Arkansas University Main Campus known for?
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is best known for its programs in Information Systems, Liberal Arts, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Southern Arkansas University Main Campus are $42,386, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Southern Arkansas University Main Campus accredited?
Yes. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus enrolls 2,708 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates 42% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Southern Arkansas University Main Campus a public or private college?
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a Public institution.
Where is Southern Arkansas University Main Campus located?
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is located in Magnolia, Arkansas.
What programs does Southern Arkansas University Main Campus offer?
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus offers 53 distinct programs. The most popular include Information Systems, Liberal Arts, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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