C+
Above Average
Score: 59/100
Overall (traditional)
D
Outcome Rating
39/100 · earnings-weighted

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

4-Year Public
📍 Magnolia, Arkansas 71753
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus campus, Magnolia, AR
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus campus, Magnolia, AR. Photo: Cdbrice00, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
C+
64/100
Affordability
C+
62/100
Resources
C+
60/100
Experience
B
70/100
Prestige
C
40/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

5,127
Total Enrollment
46%
Graduation Rate
69%
Retention Rate
16.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
67%
Acceptance Rate
$14,164
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ▼

6% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$145,586
Avg Monthly Rent
$810
1-Year Change
+1.9%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$42,386
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$37,008
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$18,750
Median debt at graduation
48.8%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,047
Average SAT
22
Median ACT
48.2%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 44% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 28th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (AR wage index 0.72). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Physics$58,870$89,685+17%#25 of 107#6$22,250
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$67,213$70,185-21%#947 of 966#728$19,500
Computer and Information Sciences$26,671$60,952-34%#433 of 459#376—
Agricultural Business and Management$41,325$55,787-16%#64 of 77#46$13,875
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$44,843$48,923-5%#220 of 345#65$12,000
Community Organization and Advocacy—$48,773-6%#17 of 24#4—
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$29,854$48,662-11%#452 of 610#224$19,500
Business/Commerce$34,910$47,979-30%#261 of 271#234$21,861
Accounting and Related Services$40,138$46,771-39%#795 of 796#775$14,848
Biology$26,044$44,873-22%#793 of 841#621$20,375
Criminal Justice and Corrections$28,541$44,523-20%#616 of 660#450$23,199
Psychology$31,426$42,925-15%#878 of 1027#490$19,413
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$37,590$40,843-14%#625 of 680#434$17,122
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$30,901$38,931-27%#459 of 476#392$24,125
Design and Applied Arts$22,016$33,649-35%#288 of 299#271$25,559
Fine and Studio Arts—$28,938-30%#414 of 423#372—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $145,586
  • Avg rent near campus: $810/mo — vs ~$487/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 71770 (6.6% cap, Waldo)

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🏆 Where Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#5
Student Counseling and Personnel Services, Other
of 7 schools
#7
Physics, Other
of 7 schools
#16
Agricultural Business and Management, General
of 27 schools
#30
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other
of 67 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $7,200 $12,780
Room $4,384
Board $3,760
Total Cost (On-Campus) $25,640 $31,220

Financial Aid

100%
Receive Any Aid
54%
Receive Pell Grants
49%
Take Out Loans
$14,164
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$14,823
$30,001 - $48,000$15,172
$48,001 - $75,000$15,686
$75,001 - $110,000$19,378
$110,001+$18,896

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Computer and Information Sciences, General 635 grads/yr General Studies 221 grads/yr Business/Commerce, General 126 grads/yr Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods, Other 107 grads/yr Early Childhood Education and Teaching 75 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 60 grads/yr Agricultural Business and Management, General 46 grads/yr Educational Leadership and Administration, General 40 grads/yr Student Counseling and Personnel Services, Other 33 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 31 grads/yr Psychology, General 31 grads/yr Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General 28 grads/yr Elementary Education and Teaching 26 grads/yr Engineering, General 26 grads/yr Physics, Other 25 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 23 grads/yr Exercise Science and Kinesiology 23 grads/yr Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 22 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 21 grads/yr Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching 21 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Southern Arkansas University Main Campus's top programs commonly pursue.

Computer and information systems managers
$171k/yr 667,100 jobs
Computer and information research scientists
$141k/yr 40,300 jobs
Database architects
$136k/yr 66,900 jobs
Computer network architects
$130k/yr 179,200 jobs
Computer occupations, all other
$109k/yr 472,000 jobs
Database administrators
$105k/yr 78,000 jobs
Computer systems analysts
$104k/yr 521,100 jobs
Software quality assurance analysts and testers
$103k/yr 201,700 jobs

Student Demographics

5,127
Total Students
57%
Women
82%
Traditional Age (18-24)
6%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 52%
Hispanic 4%
Black 19%
Asian 1%
Two or More 5%
Non-Resident 19%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 83%
Off-Campus (Renters) 6%
With Family 11%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~302 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 19%
Hybrid (Some Online) 51%
Fully Online 30%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 82%
25-64 (Adult) 8%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus has an acceptance rate of 67%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?
Tuition at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is $7,200 for in-state students and $12,780 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $14,164.
What is the graduation rate at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?
The graduation rate at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is 46%. This graduation rate is below average. Consider factors like program type and student demographics when evaluating.
Is Southern Arkansas University Main Campus a good school?
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus has a Repit College Score of 59/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus has a total enrollment of 5,127 students. Most students (82%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?
Yes! Approximately 6% of students at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 302 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Southern Arkansas University Main Campus — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
University of Central Arkansas
Conway, AR · 9,790 students
C+
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff, AR · 2,100 students
C+
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Monticello, AR · 2,739 students
C+
Arkansas Tech University
Russellville, AR · 9,487 students
C+
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR · 5,506 students
B
Arkansas State University
Jonesboro, AR · 14,032 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology