Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Southern Arkansas University Main Campus #574 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,006 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southern Arkansas University Main Campus in the 41.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Southern Arkansas University Main Campus #184 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Southern Arkansas University's published cost of attendance is $24,951. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $13,187, middle-income families pay around $13,790, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,244. Azimuth ranks Southern Arkansas University Main Campus #184 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Southern Arkansas University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs to help close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The institution's affordability positioning reflects both its public-tuition structure and the aid reach available to qualifying students. Families should review the financial aid page ↗ for current aid policies and application requirements. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $10,771; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $49,008, median federal debt of $18,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $212 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a strong fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a public university experience in AR. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $49,008, placing Southern Arkansas University Main Campus in the 9.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $4,006 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 41.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 48.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 42.1% are first-generation — and delivers outcomes that place it in the 8.4 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix favors Business and related fields, and the published cost of attendance is $19,244 for higher-income families. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can manage the cost will find a clear pathway to solid post-graduation outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Southern Arkansas University Main Campus hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Azimuth ranks Southern Arkansas University Main Campus #574 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public master's university in Magnolia, Arkansas, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus enrolls roughly 2,708 undergraduates. Retention stands at 66.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 48.8%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional public institution. Where Southern Arkansas University Main Campus performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Southern Arkansas University Main Campus #1192 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,006 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southern Arkansas University Main Campus in the 41.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's business-focused program portfolio — with Business as the dominant field — aligns well with regional labor-market demand and contributes to outcomes that exceed what comparable institutions typically deliver. Access and affordability round out the composite. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus serves 48.2% Pell-eligible students and 42.1% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a broad-access mission typical of regional public universities. Azimuth ranks Southern Arkansas University Main Campus 81.1 percentile for access and 87.1 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students seeking strong long-term financial outcomes at an affordable regional public university, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus delivers measurable value relative to peer institutions.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Southern Arkansas University's published cost of attendance is $24,951. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $13,187, middle-income families pay around $13,790, and higher-income families pay approximately $19,244.
Azimuth ranks Southern Arkansas University Main Campus #184 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Southern Arkansas University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs to help close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The institution's affordability positioning reflects both its public-tuition structure and the aid reach available to qualifying students.
Families should review the [financial aid page ↗](#) for current aid policies and application requirements. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $10,771; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $49,008, median federal debt of $18,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $212 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Southern Arkansas University earn median 4-year earnings of $49,008, placing Southern Arkansas University Main Campus in the 9.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,006 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southern Arkansas University Main Campus in the 41.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Southern Arkansas University Main Campus #1192 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Southern Arkansas University Main Campus's concentration in business and applied fields.
Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 87 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $47,979, performing at 0.7x the national benchmark for the field. The Teacher Education program graduates 54 students with median 4-year earnings of $40,843, while Kinesiology and Biology, General round out the top programs with 48 and 34 graduates respectively.
These programs anchor the institution's economic profile and connect students to stable career pathways in the region.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arkansas Tech University Similar quality tier in Southwest (#18003 ranked) | AR | 96% | $41,766 | #18003 | Compare |
University Of Central Missouri Similar quality tier (#17992 ranked) | MO | 64% | $49,560 | #17992 | Compare |
Elizabeth City State University Similar quality tier (#17475 ranked) | NC | 64% | $40,026 | #17475 | Compare |
Louisiana State University-Shreveport Similar quality tier in Southwest (#18051 ranked) | LA | 51% | $47,477 | #18051 | Compare |
University Of Baltimore Similar quality tier (#16948 ranked) | MD | 79% | $61,335 | #16948 | Compare |
Physics
31 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
33 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
11 graduates
Agricultural Business and Management
28 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
12 graduates
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus's program mix is anchored in business and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's regional focus on workforce-ready credentials. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 87 graduates, followed by Teacher Education, Kinesiology, Biology, General, and Nursing.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 534 students annually, the institution concentrates its degree output in business and related fields that lead directly into regional labor markets. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied business and technical fields.
Physics leads with median earnings of $89,685 four years after enrollment, followed by Nursing at $70,185, Agricultural Business and Management at $55,787, Kinesiology at $48,662, and Business/Commerce, General at $47,979. These programs reflect the institution's strength in practical, employer-aligned fields where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect regional labor-market conditions.
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus's program portfolio emphasizes applied credentials over research-intensive pathways, positioning graduates for immediate workforce entry in sectors with stable local demand. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with labor-market trends in Arkansas and surrounding regions.
