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Magnolia , AR
Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia, commonly referred to as SAU, is a public institution located in Magnolia, Arkansas. Founded in 1909, SAU offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs through its six academic colleges. With a student population of around 4,000, SAU provides a close-knit and supportive community for its students.
SAU offers a diverse range of academic programs, including business, liberal and performing arts, engineering and computer science, education, and many others. The university is known for its strong emphasis on hands-on learning experiences and practical application of knowledge. Through internships, research opportunities, and community engagement projects, SAU students gain real-world skills that prepare them for success in their chosen careers. Additionally, SAU places a high value on student-faculty interaction, with small class sizes that allow for personalized attention and mentoring.
Beyond academics, SAU provides a vibrant and dynamic campus life. Students can participate in over 100 student organizations, including academic clubs, honor societies, Greek life, and intramural sports. The Mulerider athletics program is also highly popular, with SAU competing in the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference. Students can attend sporting events to cheer on the Muleriders in various sports, including football, softball, baseball, and soccer.
In summary, Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia offers a well-rounded education that combines rigorous academic programs with practical experiences. With its diverse range of programs, personalized attention, and vibrant campus life, SAU provides a supportive environment for students to grow academically, socially, and personally. Whether exploring career opportunities, getting involved in campus life, or enjoying athletic events, SAU students have ample opportunities to make lasting memories and build a strong foundation for their future.
Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia is a public university located in Magnolia, AR. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 75%. The freshman retention rate at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia is 66% and the six-year graduation rate is 45%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is August 27. The transfer application deadline is July 27.
Explore this school's profile to find out all the important things about Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia.
Quick Facts
3,102
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
45%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. Here are the most vital data you should know about admission at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia.
According to the newest data, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,040 in 2025. Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
7% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 92% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 10% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between between 1,200 and 1,399, 46% between 1,000 and 1,199, 36% of the students between 800 and 999, and 8% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 6, 19 between 24-29, 48 in the range between 18-23, 26 between 12-17, and 1 between 6-11.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 21 and the average GPA was 3.49. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 506 for the enrolled first-year students, while the average SAT Math score was 492.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by August 27. If considering applying as a transfer student, the application deadline is July 27.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, make sure to consider the freshmen retention rate.
The freshman retention rate for Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia was 66% in 2025.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 45%.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the right match for you is not simple. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia in 2025 was 4,732.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 31. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 3,102, 39 of which were foreign students. The number of transfer students at this school was 253.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,241 male and 1,715 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 16 Asian students and 620 Afro-American students in 2025. 157 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 143 identified with more than one race. There were also 11 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this institution have.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $7,380. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $13,110. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $13,110, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $2,580 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $13,110 | $2,580 | $15,690 |
| In-State | $7,380 | $2,580 | $9,960 |
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 7,380 |
| Total Expense | $ 7,380 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be crucial for completing your studies. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia.
According to the most recent data, 486 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $14,598.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 1,284 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 2,009.
$6,080
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
2,003 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 485 full-time freshmen.
Majors
Faculty
17:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2025, this ratio at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia was 17:1. That means that there were 17 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 312 faculty members. This number included 147 male and 164 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some info about students' life at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia.
It has a campus size of 1,390 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 120. That includes sororities and fraternities. 1 percent of male and 1 of female students are participants in different organizations at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia. The student organization that has the biggest membership is International Student Association, followed by Residential College and Resident Hall Association. Other popular organizations at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia are Student Activities Board and Student Government Association.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. You have a talent for media and communication? Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances at the school are electronically controlled. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia.
All in all, campus life at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia.
Career Counselling
At Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia is located in Magnolia, AR.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia is 75%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia is 66%.
Contact Information
Southern Arkansas University-Magnolia
100 E. University
Magnolia , AR
71753
870 235-4000
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
