Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsPublic

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Magnolia, Arkansas·Public, 4-year or above·Southeast·saumag.edu
6-yr Graduation
49%
+9.0pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Total enrollment
4,732
peer median 5,184
Avg net price
$14,027
+$402 vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
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Admissions & acceptance rate

First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.

Applied
2,708
2,708 candidates competed
Admitted
2,040
75.3% acceptance rate
Enrolled
709
34.8% yield

Graduation rate & outcomes

Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.

Overall completion
49%+9.0pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
4-year graduation
34%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
44%
Full-time retention
66%

Pell equity

17.4pp gap
Pell recipients
41%201 of 490
Non-Pell (all)
58%233 of 399
Subsidized loan, no Pell
44%41 of 93
No Federal Aid
63%192 of 306

Non-Pell students graduate at a 17.4-point higher rate than Pell recipients.

Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.

Program outcomes

Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.

Of 112 Title IV programs, 22 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 1 fails. 89 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.

Total programs
112
Passing
22
19.6% of portfolio
Failing (GE)
1
0.9% of portfolio
Fail rate
0.9%
+0.3pp vs 0.6% national

Pass / fail distribution

112programs
  • Passing22 · 19.6%
  • No Data89 · 79.5%
  • Failing1 · 0.9%

Severity spectrum

Critical
0
Severe
1
Recoverable
0
At Risk
1
Watch
5
Safe
16
No data
89

Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.

Earnings premium gap

Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.

23
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
-8.5%
$28,938 vs $31,625
Design and Applied Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+6.4%
$33,649 vs $31,625
Teacher Education and Professional Development Specific Levels and Methods
Master's Degree · Education
+14.1%
$49,419 vs $43,298
Educational/Instructional Media Design
Master's Degree · Education
+14.8%
$49,718 vs $43,298
Education General
Master's Degree · Education
+14.9%
$49,737 vs $43,298
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Master's Degree · Education
+21.4%
$52,584 vs $43,298
Liberal Arts and Sciences General Studies and Humanities
Bachelor Degree · Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
+23.1%
$38,931 vs $31,625
Teacher Education and Professional Development Specific Levels and Methods
Bachelor Degree · Education
+29.1%
$40,843 vs $31,625

Debt vs earnings

Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.

16
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Master's Degree · Education
122%
$63,920 debt · $52,584 earn
Liberal Arts and Sciences General Studies and Humanities
Bachelor Degree · Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities
64%
$24,735 debt · $38,931 earn
Psychology General
Bachelor Degree · Psychology
55%
$23,478 debt · $42,925 earn
Educational Administration and Supervision
Master's Degree · Education
50%
$29,067 debt · $58,663 earn
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Bachelor Degree · Security And Protective Services
48%
$21,375 debt · $44,523 earn
Teacher Education and Professional Development Specific Levels and Methods
Master's Degree · Education
46%
$22,700 debt · $49,419 earn
Teacher Education and Professional Development Specific Levels and Methods
Bachelor Degree · Education
45%
$18,367 debt · $40,843 earn
Educational/Instructional Media Design
Master's Degree · Education
41%
$20,500 debt · $49,718 earn

Accreditation status & history

Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.

AccreditedInstitutional accreditor

Higher Learning Commission

Accredited since 1929Next review Aug 2033

Programmatic accreditations · 4

Action history · 4

  1. Feb 2023Renewal of Accreditation
    Higher Learning Commission
  2. Sep 2019Renewal of Accreditation
    Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. — May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission · Nursing (NUR) - Baccalaureate program
  3. Mar 2018Grant Substantive Change: Other
    Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. — May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission · Nursing (NUR) - Baccalaureate program
  4. Aug 2014Change in Agency recognition
    National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation · Music (MUS) - Institutions and units within institutions offering degree-granting and/or non-degree-granting programs

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Tuition & cost

What families actually pay, broken down by family income.

Net price by family income

Aid exceeds costFamily pays
$0–30k$13,187
$30–48k$12,827
$48–75k$13,790
$75–110k$15,654
$110k+$19,244

Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.

Avg net price
$14,027
+$402vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs median $13,626
Federal loans
62.8%
In-state tuition
$9,960
Out-of-state
$15,690

Federal aid volume & trends

Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.

In AY 2024–25, 1,557 students received $9.2M in Pell grants, alongside $15.0M in federal Direct Loans.

Pell recipients
1,557
AY 2024–25
Pell disbursed
$9.2M
$9,195,701 total
Direct Loans
$15.0M
2,288 loan awards

Pell recipients · 5-year trend

1k
20
1k
21
2k
22
2k
23
2k
24

Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25

Subsidized$2.6M
794 loan awards
Unsubsidized · UG$2.2M
761 loan awards
Unsubsidized · Grad$8.2M
504 loan awards
Parent PLUS$1.2M
154 loan awards
Grad PLUS$786K
75 loan awards

Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student loan default rate

The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.

Of 1,004 borrowers who entered repayment, 65 (6.4%) defaulted within three years above the 2.3% national rate.

Default rate
6.4%
+4.1pp vs 2.3% national
Borrowers in repayment
1,004
Defaulted
65
Measurement window
3 years
Federal CDR standard

Default rate vs national, by cohort

2016
15.9%
2017
19.3%
2018
13.4%
2019
6.4%
2020*
0.0%
This institutionNational rate

* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Academic programs at Saumag

Top program areas ranked by completions.

Distinct CIP programs61
UndergraduateOffered
GraduateOffered

Top program families by completions

1,701 total completions
01Computer Sciences
58234.2%
02Education
34920.5%
03Liberal Arts
29317.2%
04Business
20111.8%
05Health Professions
774.5%
06Agriculture
754.4%
07Parks/Recreation
412.4%
08Visual/Performing Arts
291.7%
09Psychology
281.6%
10Biological Sciences
261.5%

Enrollment trends & demographics

Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.

Fall total
4,732
12-mo unduplicated
5,451
Undergraduate
3,361
Graduate
2,090

Gender split

Men
40%2,179
Women
60%3,272

Race / ethnicity composition

White
63.1%
Black
22.7%
Hispanic
5.8%
Two or more
5.4%
Non-resident
1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.7%
Asian
0.6%
Unknown
0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0.0%

Athletics & Title IX gender equity

How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.

Athletes
465
307 M · 158 W
Women athletes
34.0%
Athletic aid
$2.0M
Total student aid
Budget
$6.7M
Total expenses

Men vs women · spending splits

Athletic student aid
$1.2M
$791K
Recruiting expense
$12K
$10K
Head-coach salaries
$54K
$47K
Men Women

Sport-by-sport · 9

Football
149 M ·
$1.3M
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
73 M · 56 W
$670K
Baseball
56 M ·
$460K
Rodeo
12 M · 24 W
$207K
Softball
· 35 W
$462K
Basketball
16 M · 17 W
$826K

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Campus safety & crime statistics

Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.

Criminal offenses · per 1,000 students
1.56
8 offenses · 5,127 students

3-year trend

0.902 yrs ago0.201 yr ago1.56Latest
Offenses · 3-yr
13
Last three years
VAWA · 3-yr
13
DV, dating, stalking
Hate crimes · 3-yr
0
Res-hall fires · 3-yr
4

Criminal offenses by type

Burglary
6
Rape
2

By location

8total
  • On campus8

Includes 2 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).

VAWA offenses

2
Domestic violence
0
Dating violence
0
Stalking
2 total under the Violence Against Women Act.

Hate crimes by bias

No hate crimes reported.

Arrests vs disciplinary referrals

CategoryArrestsReferrals
Weapons00
Drugs120
Liquor10

Residence-hall fires

No residence-hall fires reported.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student-faculty ratio

Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.

Student-to-faculty
16.0:1
Instructional staff (full-time equivalent)
158

Saumag vs Peer comparison

The peer institutions Saumag selected for federal comparison reporting.

GraduationRetentionSelectivityEnrollmentAffordabilityYield
This institutionPeer median

A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.

Carnegie
SubjectSouthern Arkansas University Main Campus
49%4,732$14,027Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
17%5,646$8,370Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
44%95.9%8,746$12,970Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
36%44.9%5,150$19,809Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
33%91.6%5,217$13,224Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
57%79.3%4,894$15,343Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Peer group median40%85.4%5,184$13,626

Institutions like Saumag

Explore the federal data for institutions in Saumag's comparison group.

Saumag Institutional Research office

The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.

Office
Office of Institutional Research
Phone
(870) 235-4000
Address
100 E. University, Magnolia, Arkansas 71753-5000

The purpose of the Office of Institutional Research at Southern Arkansas University is to create decision support that helps SAU fulfill its mission to educate students for productive and fulfilling lives, as well as provide accurate statistical information for dissemination to the public while maintaining the highest professional standards of accuracy, objectivity, and timeliness.

Visit IR office page
Team
1 member
  • Christine Pacheco, Ph.D.
    Assistant Provost for Institutional Research

Frequently asked questions about Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Saumag.

What is the graduation rate at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus reports a 6-year graduation rate of 49% per the latest IPEDS.

How many students attend Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus reports a total enrollment of 4,732 students per the latest IPEDS.

What is the average net price at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?

The average net price at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is $14,027 per the latest College Scorecard. Net price is the published cost of attendance minus grant aid.

What is the yield rate at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus's yield rate is 34.8%, the share of admitted students who enrolled, per the latest IPEDS.

Where is Southern Arkansas University Main Campus located?

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is located in Magnolia, Arkansas 71753.

Who runs Institutional Research at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus's IR work is done by the Office of Institutional Research.

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDS2025 provisional data (Fall 2025–26 release, July 28, 2026)
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.
DAPIP accreditationContinuously refreshed
Accreditation status for institutions and programs, reported by recognized accrediting agencies.
Federal Pell Grant volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Pell Grant recipient counts, award amounts, and disbursements by institution and award year.
Federal student loan volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Federal Direct Loan recipient counts and disbursement volume by institution and award year.
Cohort Default RatesFY 2022 official rates
Institution-level federal student loan default rates, measuring borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment.
Equity in Athletics (EADA)Academic year 2024–25
Athletics participation, coaching, revenues, and expenses by sport and gender for Title IV institutions.
Campus Safety & SecurityData through reporting year 2024
Criminal offenses, arrests, disciplinary actions, VAWA offenses, and fire statistics reported by campus under the Clery Act.

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