Arkansas State University
#2 Best Bachelor's Programs in Arkansas- Graduation Rate
- 55% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,617 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $12,366 B-
- 28% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 82% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.1 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Bachelor's Programs in Arkansas.
Every $1 spent returns $19.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $893,603.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Social mobility rate of 2.36% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.4%
- Top 57%
- Patents
- 67
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 34
- Downstream influence
Why Arkansas State University Matters
Arkansas State University is a public research university in Jonesboro, AR and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 9,110
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Psychology
Why students choose Arkansas State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 82% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 970–1190. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,366 a year after grants and scholarships — 28% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,617 ten years after enrolling — 5% above the typical college, against $20,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 20% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.22 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Arkansas State University serves over 9,100 students, with an acceptance rate of 82%. This high acceptance rate means that many students can find a place in higher education here, making it accessible for a diverse range of applicants.
The earnings potential for graduates is notable, with a median income of $42,617 ten years post-graduation. While the graduation rate sits at 55%, data from Chetty/Opportunity Insights can help assess economic mobility for students, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds. Although specific mobility metrics aren't available, the presence of a 38% Pell Grant rate indicates that a significant portion of students receive federal aid, suggesting a commitment to supporting those from economically challenged families.
Cost is another important factor for prospective students. The net price of attendance is $12,366, and graduates leave with a median debt of $20,500. Those who thrive at Arkansas State University often come from diverse backgrounds and are pursuing degrees in popular fields like Health Professions, Education, and Business. Students looking for a supportive environment and a clear path to employment may find their fit here.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Arkansas State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Arkansas State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Arkansas State University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 82%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,090. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- SAT Average
- 1090
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 970–1190
- ACT Range
- 18–24
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,579
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.56
- First-Gen Students
- 39%
- Applicants
- 6,045
- Admitted
- 4,202
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Arkansas State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Arkansas State University is $14,522, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,366. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,098 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,090
- Out-of-State
- $14,522
- Avg Net Price
- $12,366
- Median Debt
- $20,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 38%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 42%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,098
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,255
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,205
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,444
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Arkansas State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Arkansas State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Arkansas State University report median earnings of $42,617, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $38,944
- 8 Years
- $40,605
- 10 Years
- $42,617
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.48x
- Earning > $25K
- 53%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (609)
- 37%
- 100% (609)
- 37%
- 100% (609)
- 37%
- 100% (609)
- 37%
How Arkansas Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Arkansas State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Arkansas State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,366/year ($49,464 total). Graduates earn $42,617 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $943,067 in total earnings — a net gain of $893,603 (19.1× your investment). The median debt is $20,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 55% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $49,464
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $943,067
- Net Return
- $893,603
- ROI Multiple
- 19.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,366
- Median Debt
- $20,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 55%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Arkansas State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Arkansas State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.36%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.36%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 14.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 15.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $82,606
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Arkansas State University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 67 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.38%
- Top 57% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 67
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 34
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.38%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Arkansas State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 37% $35,917 early-career
- Health Professions 19% $69,084 early-career
- Business & Marketing 11% $42,504 early-career
- Psychology 7% $27,640 early-career
- Communications 4% $39,671 early-career
- Education 4% $44,266 early-career
- Social Sciences 3% $35,271 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 1% $35,271 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Arkansas State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Arkansas State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Arkansas State University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 82%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,090. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Arkansas State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Arkansas State University is $14,522, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,366. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,098 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,500 in federal student loans.
Is Arkansas State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Arkansas State University report median earnings of $42,617, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Arkansas State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Arkansas State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.36%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Arkansas State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Arkansas State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.22, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Arkansas State University.
- Youngstown State UniversityYoungstown, OH · Close peer52% grad $41,544 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Prairie View A & M UniversityPrairie View, TX · Close peer43% grad $45,411 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Tennessee Technological UniversityCookeville, TN · Close peer56% grad $48,501 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City, TN · Close peer52% grad $44,859 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Troy UniversityTroy, AL · Close peer48% grad $42,062 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Central ArkansasConway, AR · Close peer53% grad $45,938 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Arkansas State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Arkansas State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.22, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note