Southern Arkansas University

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Magnolia, AR

This school is more affordable than other schools.

Affordability is calculated by subtracting average financial aid from total tuition and fees.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

$6,420

Avg in-state tuition

$11,460

Avg out-of-state tuition

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About Southern Arkansas University

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Southern Arkansas University is a small public university located on a rural campus in Magnolia, Arkansas. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,447, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 69%. The university offers 35 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 43%, and a student-faculty ratio of 18:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $6,420, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $11,460.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a high acceptance rate.

This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.

69% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

72% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

43% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Required

High school transcript Required

High school rank Required

Letter of recommendation Not required or recommended

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Recommended

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Implied no

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 19-25

SAT 25th-75th Percentile Currently Unavailable

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of fewer than 5,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

4k

Students enrolled

86%

Online student enrollment

18:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold

Demographics

White

66%

Black

22%

Hispanic

4%

Non-U.S. Citizen

4%

Two or more races

2%

Asian

1%

Unknown

0%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

Information not available

Female student population

58%

Socio-economic diversity

56% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Explore Similar Schools

Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

17

Total Online Enrollment

3,798

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

73% On-campus

27% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's X Bold Not offered

Graduate Certificate Check Bold 100% online

Master's Check Bold 100% online

Doctorate X Bold Not offered

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $6,420 $11,460
Graduate $5,112 $8,028

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,600
On-campus room and board $7,418
On-campus other expenses $6,112
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $7,418
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $7,725
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $6,702

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $21,550 $26,590
Off-campus without family $23,163 $28,203
Off-campus with family $14,722 $19,762

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

56%

State Grant Aid

46%

Institution Grant Aid

77%

Pell Grant

56%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $5,092
State Grant Aid $1,149
Institution Grant Aid $6,755
Pell Grant Aid $4,900

Financial Outlook

$19k

Average student debt after graduation

$30k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division II with football

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Rodeo
  • Softball
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • All Track Combined

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields

BA

MA

DOC

2

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, And Related Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

3

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

4

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

5

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

6

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

7

Education

BA

MA

DOC

8

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

9

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

10

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

11

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

12

Health Professions And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

13

History

BA

MA

DOC

14

History

BA

MA

DOC

15

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting And Related Protective Services

BA

MA

DOC

16

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

BA

MA

DOC

17

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

18

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies

BA

MA

DOC

19

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology

BA

MA

DOC

20

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

21

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

22

Public Administration And Social Service Professions

BA

MA

DOC

23

Security And Protective Services

BA

MA

DOC

24

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

25

Visual And Performing Arts

BA