Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
- Graduation Rate
- 48% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,386 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $14,027 C+
- 18% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 75% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 17.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $17.7 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $17.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $938,426.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $17.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Matters
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a public university in Magnolia, AR and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 2,708
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Education, Health Professions
Why students choose Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
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
Competitive — admits about 75% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 875–1105. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,027 a year after grants and scholarships — 18% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,386 ten years after enrolling — 4% above the typical college, against $18,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.13 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus serves 2,708 students and has a 75% acceptance rate, making it an accessible option for many. With a graduation rate of 48%, students can expect a moderate challenge in completing their degrees.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data on economic mobility for Southern Arkansas University is limited, but the average 10-year earnings for graduates stand at $42,386. This suggests a degree can lead to stable employment, although more data on mobility and success rates would provide clearer insights into long-term outcomes for graduates.
Prospective students should consider the net price of $14,027 and the median debt of $18,750 when planning their finances. Nearly half of the student body receives Pell Grants, indicating that the university supports low-income students. Those who thrive here often pursue majors in Humanities, Education, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, or Visual & Performing Arts, aligning their interests with practical career paths.
Rankings
- #12 Best Education Colleges in Arkansas
- #14 Best Nursing Colleges in Arkansas
- #15 Best Bachelor's Programs in Arkansas
- #17 Best Colleges in Arkansas
- #18 Best Master's Programs in Arkansas
- #18 Best Business Colleges in Arkansas
- #26 Most Affordable Colleges in Arkansas
- #27 Best Online Colleges in Arkansas
Can I Get In?
How selective Southern Arkansas University Main Campus 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 Southern Arkansas University Main Campus? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus, located in Magnolia, Arkansas, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 75%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,047. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Retention Rate
- 66%
- SAT Average
- 1047
- ACT Midpoint
- 22
- SAT Range
- 875–1105
- ACT Range
- 17–24
- Full-Time Faculty
- 61%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,469
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.54
- First-Gen Students
- 42%
- Applicants
- 2,916
- Admitted
- 1,855
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 Southern Arkansas University Main Campus? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is $15,690, 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 $14,027. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,187 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $9,960
- Out-of-State
- $15,690
- Avg Net Price
- $14,027
- Median Debt
- $18,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 48%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 63%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,187
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $12,827
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,790
- Family Income $110K+
- $19,244
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 Southern Arkansas University Main Campus — 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 Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southern Arkansas University Main Campus report median earnings of $42,386, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $37,008
- 8 Years
- $40,383
- 10 Years
- $42,386
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.44x
- Earning > $25K
- 57%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (193)
- 28%
- 100% (193)
- 28%
- 100% (193)
- 28%
- 100% (193)
- 28%
How Southern Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,027/year ($56,108 total). Graduates earn $42,386 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $994,534 in total earnings — a net gain of $938,426 (17.7× your investment). The median debt is $18,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 48% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $56,108
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $994,534
- Net Return
- $938,426
- ROI Multiple
- 17.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,027
- Median Debt
- $18,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 48%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,944,029
Top Programs
The fields Southern Arkansas University Main Campus 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 31%
- Business & Marketing 16% $41,658 early-career
- Education 14% $45,128 early-career
- Health Professions 8% $65,530 early-career
- Psychology 3% $29,935 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 3%
- Biology & Biomedical 3% $29,546 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 2%
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 Southern Arkansas University Main Campus'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+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Southern Arkansas University Main Campus? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus, located in Magnolia, Arkansas, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 75%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,047. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Southern Arkansas University Main Campus? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is $15,690, 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 $14,027. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,187 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,750 in federal student loans.
Is Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southern Arkansas University Main Campus report median earnings of $42,386, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Southern Arkansas University Main Campus? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus. Its economic connectedness score is 1.13, 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 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Southern Arkansas University Main Campus.
- Campbellsville UniversityCampbellsville, KY · Close peer44% grad $41,583 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Lander UniversityGreenwood, SC · Close peer49% grad $42,396 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Francis Marion UniversityFlorence, SC · Close peer43% grad $43,888 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of South Carolina AikenAiken, SC · Close peer40% grad $45,603 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Fort Lewis CollegeDurango, CO · Close peer39% grad $46,349 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- William Carey UniversityHattiesburg, MS · Close peer51% grad $43,087 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Southern Arkansas University Main Campus? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus. Its economic connectedness score is 1.13, 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 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note