Public Associate Good 66/100

Southern Arkansas University Tech

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

Compare This College

Camden, Arkansas

About Southern Arkansas University Tech

Southern Arkansas University Tech is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Camden, Arkansas. It enrolls 672 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.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
33.9%
Net Price
$9,018
Median Earnings (10yr)
$36,376
Enrollment
672
Student : Faculty
10:1

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
66/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 45
Value 56
Affordability 60
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Southern Arkansas University Tech 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 Southern Arkansas University Tech 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 $9,018 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$9,018
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
42%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
10%
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)
$5,040
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$6,480
Room & Board (on-campus)
$5,372
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,000
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,643
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,962
Total Cost of Attendance
$17,294

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
    $8,848
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $9,208
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $8,633
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $11,321
  • Over $110,000
    $17,294

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.

$1,300
10% percentile
$2,250
25% percentile
$6,000
Median percentile
$7,000
75% percentile
$11,336
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 $4,000 ↓ $2,000
No Pell $5,500 ↓ $500
Dependent students $4,000 ↓ $2,000
Independent students $5,667 ↓ $333
Female students $4,500 ↓ $1,500
Male students $4,500 ↓ $1,500
Pell recipients: 14.2% (852 students)No Pell: 19.5% (1,172 students)Dependent students: 14.2% (852 students)Independent students: 20.1% (1,207 students)Female students: 16.0% (959 students)Male students: 16.0% (959 students)Overall Median$6,000
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $3,450, less than completers ($6,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

34% of full-time students who enrolled at Southern Arkansas University Tech graduate within six years, and 57% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
34%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
57%
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 Southern Arkansas University Tech earn a median of $36,376 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$36,376
Earning > $25K
62%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

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

$31,000$33,000$34,000$36,000$37,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
$26,100

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

Male graduates
$40,800

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

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $14,700, about 36% 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 3.9 pts across 6 years
55.6%1yr51.2%3yr56.6%5yr59.6%7yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 60% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Southern Arkansas University Tech is home to 672 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 52% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
672
Part-Time
35%
First-Generation
52%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents
White 44.9% 302
Black 38.1% 256
Other 11.5% 77
Hispanic 5.2% 35
Asian 0.3% 2
White: 44.9% (302 students)Black: 38.1% (256 students)Other: 11.5% (77 students)Hispanic: 5.2% (35 students)Asian: 0.3% (2 students)Total672

Student Life & Campus Culture

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

Setting
Rural: Distant Camden, Arkansas
Housing
Partly residential 200 beds available
Adult Learners
21% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Southern Arkansas University Tech offers an extensive catalog of programs: 43 distinct programs across 14 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
2 Programs
8 Programs
5 Programs
2 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Arkansas University Tech is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).

Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$14,050
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$1.2M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$41,034
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

58 instructional faculty across 1 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
No Rank 58 100% $41,034

Pros & Cons of Southern Arkansas University Tech

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Southern Arkansas University Tech 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
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • 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
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for: Based on the data, Southern Arkansas University Tech 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; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Arkansas University Tech

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

Is Southern Arkansas University Tech hard to get into?
Southern Arkansas University Tech has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Southern Arkansas University Tech?
Southern Arkansas University Tech has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Southern Arkansas University Tech cost?
The average net price after aid at Southern Arkansas University Tech is $9,018 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 Tech worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $36,376 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,018 per year. That's roughly 4.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southern Arkansas University Tech known for?
Southern Arkansas University Tech is best known for its programs in Health Sciences, Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Precision Metal Working. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Southern Arkansas University Tech graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Southern Arkansas University Tech are $36,376, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Southern Arkansas University Tech accredited?
Yes. Southern Arkansas University Tech is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Southern Arkansas University Tech?
Southern Arkansas University Tech enrolls 672 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Southern Arkansas University Tech?
Southern Arkansas University Tech graduates 34% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Southern Arkansas University Tech a public or private college?
Southern Arkansas University Tech is a Public institution.
Where is Southern Arkansas University Tech located?
Southern Arkansas University Tech is located in Camden, Arkansas.
What programs does Southern Arkansas University Tech offer?
Southern Arkansas University Tech offers 43 distinct programs. The most popular include Health Sciences, Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Precision Metal Working.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Arkansas University Tech?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Arkansas University Tech is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

Continue Exploring

Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.