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Southern Arkansas University

Magnolia, Arkansas, United States

Estimate total cost
Official site ↗
Tuition from ₹2.64 L per year, 9 courses
Courses 1
Acceptance rate N/A
Founded 1909
Students 3000

About Southern Arkansas University

{"text":"Established in 1909 by an Act of the Arkansas Legislature, Southern Arkansas University has undergone significant transformations throughout its history. Originally known as the Third District Agricultural School, it started as a secondary school offering agricultural education. Over time, it evolved into a college, adding two years of college work in 1925 and eventually transitioning to a four-year degree-granting institution in 1949.

The institution's commitment to education faced challenges regarding racial integration, with the admission of Black students being limited until the mid-20th century.Following the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954 and the subsequent Civil Rights Act of 1964, Southern State College began to admit Black students, albeit in small numbers initially. By the late 1960s, the institution had made strides towards integration, allowing Black undergraduates to enroll and reside in school dormitories.

The gradual inclusion of Black faculty members and the graduation of the first Black student in 1967 marked pivotal moments in the university's history, reflecting its evolving commitment to diversity and equality.","requirements":"","courses":[],"gallery":["https:\/\/d2bps9p1kiy4ka.cloudfront.net\/5b09189f7285894d9130ccd0\/ab277e80-fc56-47e6-b3b6-46f6b1f09216.jpg","https:\/\/d2bps9p1kiy4ka.cloudfront.net\/5b09189f7285894d9130ccd0\/5d936f07-379c-4794-85a1-6959639f4810.png"]}

Courses and fees

Tuition as published by the source, converted to rupees. Per year unless the course page says otherwise.

Bachelor's (4)

CourseDurationTuition
Associate of Science in Business Administration 2 years ₹12.53 L
B.S. in Computer Science 4 years ₹12.88 L
BS in Engineering 4 years ₹12.53 L
BS in Psychology 4 years ₹12.53 L

Master's (5)

CourseDurationTuition
M.B.A MBA ₹5.87 L
Master of Business Administration (MBA) 2 years ₹7.4 L
Master of Computer and Information Science ₹2.64 L
MS in Mental Health & Clinical Counseling ₹5.55 L
MS in Mental Health & Clinical Counseling 2 years ₹13.04 L

At a glance

Type
Public
Living expenses
UG USD 11,426 / PG USD 11,062
Course duration
2 years
Campuses
1
Campus size
1418

Admission requirements

Documents

  • SOPNot required
  • LORNot required
  • EssaysNot required
  • CVNot required
  • Additional documentsRequired

Application fees

  • USD 90

Type of deadline

  • Regular

Intake Season & Deadlines

  • Fall20ᵗʰ Jul 2024
  • Spring2ⁿᵈ Dec 2022 - 1ˢᵗ Dec 2024
  • Summer1ˢᵗ Apr - 1ˢᵗ Jun 2025

Placements and recruiters

Internships: Available for some courses.

Careers service ↗

Campuses

Southern Arkansas University Campus Main

100 E. University, Magnolia, Arkansas 71753-5000

Campus page ↗

Scholarships at Southern Arkansas University

K.C. Mahindra Scholarships For Post-Graduate Studies Abroad merit

Amount: ₹10 L · Deadline: 2026-04-30

Unimoni Student Stars 2023 merit

5 awards

Amount: ₹3 L ·

J.N. Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship merit

Deadline: 2026-03-29

Young Women in Public Affairs Awards merit

37 awards

Amount: ₹4.72 L ·

Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program merit

Amount: ₹42.37 L ·

GlobalScholarships.com $3,000 Scholarship both

1 awards

Amount: ₹2.83 L ·

Amberscholar Scholarship both

Amount: ₹47.13 L · Deadline: 2026-08-31

HEST 2025 - New Study Abroad Scholarship need

Amount: ₹3 L ·

Imported from public sources. Confirm amounts and deadlines with the university.

About SAU

Founded in 1909, Southern Arkansas University is a public funded university for higher education and research in Columbia County's Magnolia city. University is spread over 1,390 acres of land on Northern edge of Magnolia, Arkansas. According to various sources, Southern Arkansas University has rank of #86 out of 136 South Regional Universities.

SAU has acceptance rate of 64%. Tuition fees for international students at SAU range between INR 6 L - INR 10 L for 1st year. SAU offers 100+ degree programs for international students with impressive 16 - 1 student or teacher ratio. It is one of the best universities in the US to pursue higher education for international students.

Southern Arkansas University Things To Know

Some of the important things to know about Southern Arkansas University are given as follows -

Parameters Statistics
Admission Rarity 64%
Annual Tuition Cost

UG: INR 10.69 L - INR 11.75 L

PG: INR 6.15 L - INR 11.4 L

Southern Arkansas University History

Southern Arkansas University was established by the Act of Arkansas in 1909 as a district agricultural high school and had been originally named as the Third District Agricultural School.

Students can read the Study Guide to USA for International Students 2024

Check out the below videos of Southern Arkansas University for more Information:

SAU Scholarships

Southern Arkansas University offers the International Scholarships Program which has two types of scholarships for international students.

  • Initial scholarships for first-time freshmen coming to SAU
  • The retention scholarship for the current SAU international undergraduate students

Some of the scholarships offered by the university are given as follows:

Scholarship Name Award
Non-Resident Scholarship USD 3,030
International Excellence Scholarship USD 5,000
Presidential Scholarship USD 10,000
Retention Scholarsihp USD 4,500

SAU Programs

Southern Arkansas University offers more than 100+ academic degree courses at the UG, PG, Associate, and Certificate levels. Some of the popular courses at the university are Business, Management, Marketing, Education, etc.

Study in USA - Colleges, Eligibility & Scholarships

SAU Notable Alumni

Some of the popular alumni graduates at Southern Arkansas University are given as follows:

Name Profession Photograph
Thomas Hawley Tuberville American politician and retired college football coach Tommy Tuberville
Tracy Lee Lawrence American country music singer Tracy Lawrence
Joyce Ann Elliott American politician Joyce Elliott
David Fielding American politician and a Democratic member of the Arkansas House of Representatives David Fielding
Horace Milton Wade Former general in the United States Air Force Horace M. Wade

SAU Placements

Southern Arkansas University graduates are in high demand across industries in the USA. The university produces some of the highly skilled and well-trained graduates that are industry-ready. Southern Arkansas University has its Career Services Center that helps the students to have the knowledge that is important to achieve their career goals. Some of the services offered to the students are as follows:

  • Job and Career Fairs
  • On Campus Interviews
  • Career Services Events
  • On-Campus Employment
  • Student Worker Training
  • Summer Jobs

Southern Arkansas University Alumni Statistics: Sectors Placed

The alumni placement highlights at Southern Arkansas University are given as follows:

  • Some of the top alumni organizations at Southern Arkansas University include Murphy USA, Walmart, Albemarie Corporation, Verizon, Citi, Tyson Foods, Bank of America, Fidelity Investments, etc.
  • A few of the top alumni industries at Southern Arkansas University include Engineering, Sales, Operations, Healthcare Services, Education, Community and Social Services, Information Technology, etc.
  • The top alumni course preferences at Southern Arkansas University Computer Sciences, Business Administration and Management, Accounting and Related Services, General Studies, Psychology, etc.

Others Denote Sales, Healthcare Services, Community and Social Services, etc.

Students can check the Popular Job Sectors in the USA

SAU Fees

Southern Arkansas University offers more than 100+ academic programs to study across a range of subject areas. The annual tuition fees for undergraduate and postgraduate courses for international students are given as follows:

Course level Annual Tuition Fee in INR
UG
INR 10.69 L - INR 11.75 L
PG
INR 6.15 L - INR 11.4 L

Students can check the Eligibility to Study in USA for International Students

Introduction

Southern Arkansas University takes admission in three intakes; Fall, Summer, and Spring intakes. The admissions are done on a rolling basis, however, international students should know some important dates.

  • The application deadline for UG and PG courses for Spring 2024 at SAU is now closed.

Southern Arkansas University Admission 2026

Students seeking admission to Southern Arkansas University have to fill the online application form, submit mandatory documents and pay the application fee. Southern Arkansas University accepts some exam scores at the time of admission, including English language exams. Some of the exam scores that Indian students have to submit for admission are TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Duolingo and SAT.

SAU Rankings 2025

SAU is among the top universities in the United States. According to some various sources, Southern Arkansas University has a ranking of #86 in Regional Universities South and #42 in Top Public Schools.

Students can check the Top Ranked Universities in the USA 2026

Common questions

What are the admission requirements for Southern Arkansas University?

Below are the admission requirement for Southern Arkansas University:

  • Application Fee or fee waiver: Applicants must pay a USD 90 application fee through the common application or coalition Application website. However, applicants using these platforms can request a fee waiver. You can check out how you can waive application fees)

  • LORs: Applicants can obtain recommendations from two teachers who have taught them core academic subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science, or social studies. Additionally, a recommendation from the school’s college counselor is required. However, if the school doesn't have a counsellor, the students can get a recommendation from a school administrator like a principal or an academic advisor. ( This is optional)

  • Transcripts:  the applicant should submit the school report and the official transcript, including all secondary school courses. 

  • Standardised Test Results The University has a strongly recommended students to have a ACT or SAT scores prior admission. 

PG requirements

  • Application Fee or fee waiver: Applicants must pay a USD 90 application fee through the common application or coalition Application website. However, applicants using these platforms can request a fee waiver. You can check out how you can waive application fees)

  • LORs: Applicants can obtain recommendations from two teachers who have taught them core academic subjects from your university. (varies course wise)

  • Transcripts:  the applicant should submit the school report and the official transcript, including all UG degrees from the applicant

  • Standardised Test Results: The SAU asks for GMAT or GRE scores depending on the course applied by the applicant. As each course as different application requirements

  • Applicants must follow all the English language requirement with the minimum scores in mind. Below are the listed ELP scores:

  •  

Exam 

Score Required for UG 

Score Required for PG

 

IELTS 

61 (iBT)

79 (iBT) 

 

IELTS 

5.5 overall 

Overall 6.0 

 

PTE

43 

51

 

Duolingo

90

100 or higher

 
Is Southern arkansas University, USA a better option than Chandigarh University, India for doing MBA?

Southern Arkansas University (SAU) and Chandigarh University (CU) are both excellent institutions. SAU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and AACSB International. CU is a NAAC-A+ university and has been recognised as the top private university in India according to the QS World University Rankings 2024.

Southern Arkansas University's (SAU) MBA programme is considered one of the best in the United States. It's affordable & is ranked at No. 152 out of 344 in the list of Best Online MBA Programs. Interestingly, it is the only university in Arkansas that made it to the 2019 rankings. This programme gives students options – they can finish it online, in person, or a mix of both.

Chandigarh University, on the other hand, has regular visits from leading MNCs, and most students are placed in their final semester. The highest package for the 2022 MBA batch was INR 28 LPA.

 

Does Southern Arkansas University require GRE?

Yes, Southern Arkansas University mandates either GRE general test or Miller Analogy Test ( MAT)  score for admission. The GRE assess skills developed over time, not specific to any field. It includes verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing section and many more. The test can be opted in two ways, one is CBT ( Computer based Test) and the other is Paper based test. However, the admission process at Southern Arkansas State takes a holistic approach, considering multiple factors in the student's profile. These factors include Leadership, Work experience, essays, LOR and interviews that the students give during their admission process. 

What are the job opportunities after doing MS from Southern arkansas University, USA?

Southern Arkansas University (SAU) provides a Master of Science in Computer and Information Science (MCIS) programme that equips students for various career paths, such as:
- Programmer
- Web developer
- Database developer
- Information systems project manager
- Software engineer
- Database administrator
- Information technology manager
- Data analyst
- Security/privacy analyst

These job choices show the different job opportunities available to students who finish the MCIS programme at SAU. SAU also has helpful resources like the Employment Resource Center to help students find job openings. Also, the Office of Human Resources at SAU often puts up job listings for jobs at the university, like teaching jobs, staff jobs, and part-time jobs.

 

Are there many students from other countries studying at Southern arkansas University?

Southern Arkansas University is a public university located in Magnolia, Arkansas, with a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,148 and a total enrollment of 5,094 students. Southern Arkansas University (SAU) does have a lot of students from different countries. As per past data, In 2020, there were 174 students from 31 countries, and about 100 of them were from India. Normally, the numbers are higher, usually over 200 each year, but due to COVID-19, the count dropped. Back in 2018, SAU had over 300 international students studying there. Southern arkansas University has an acceptance rate of around 64%. SAU offers more than 100 degree programs for international students.

What are the Initial Scholarships at Southern Arkansas University?

The International office chooses recipients of Initial Scholarships based on their SAT and ACT score. Theses scholarshps are given to very limited number of students each year. There are three types of Intial Scholarships. 

ScholarshipRequirementsAwardNon-Resident Scholarship
  • New SAT score of at least 1160
  • ACT composite of least 24.
USD 3,030 for the academic yearInternational Excellence Scholarship
  • New SAT score of at least 1270
  • ACT composite of at least 27.
USD 5,000 per academic yearPresidential Scholarship
  • New SAT score of 1370
  • ACT composite of at least 30.
USD 10,000 per academic year
What scores do I need to have to get a scholarship at Southern arkansas University?

Southern Arkansas University has many scholarships for new and current students. If you do well in high school, you might get an academic scholarship based on your grades, class rank, and ACT or SAT score. To be eligible, you need a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 2.5.

To retain a freshman scholarship, you need to complete 30 hours with a 2.75 GPA each year, take at least 15 hours each semester, and finish 27 hours with a 2.75 GPA by the end of your first year.

If you're already a student, you could apply for College Scholarships. They're $2,500 for both the fall and spring semesters of the next academic year. To qualify, you should be at SAU, Magnolia for at least two semesters, have 30 semester hours by the end of the academic year, keep a GPA of 3.00, and have a declared major in the relevant college.

To apply for these scholarships at Southern Arkansas University, you can fill out a short online application. There's also the Mulerider Scholarship Program for freshmen with a 3.25 GPA and proof of leadership activities. This scholarship is $3,000 per year and can be renewed for 7 semesters. To keep it continued, you need a 2.75 GPA and complete 15 hours each semester.

Even graduate students at Southern Arkansas University can apply for scholarships. The Wilson Memorial Scholarship Fund is for graduate students who finished at least 12 hours of graduate coursework, have a GPA of 3.50 or higher in all graduate work, and no C grade. You'll also need two recommendation letters from faculty in higher education.

What is Retention Scholarship of Southern Arkansas University?

The Retention Scholarship is awarded to international students only after they have complted 15 credit hours. The award is equivalent to approximately USD 2,250 per semester which is the difference between resident and non-resident tuition cost. The minimum criteria for the Retention Scholarship is:

  1. Only for students without other initial international scholarships.
  2. Must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA and have completed at least 15 hours at SAU.
  3. Must live on campus
Is Southern arkansas University cheaper than University of Central Missouri?

Below is a comparison of the two universities. 

Southern Arkansas University (SAU)

Full-Time Tuition (on-campus) Fall 2023 / Spring 2024Summer 2024Undergraduate (in-state)
*$115 for each hour above 15 hours$3,600 (15 hrs.)based on hourly rateUndergraduate (out-of-state)
*115 for each hour above 15 hours$6,390 (15 hrs.)based on hourly rate

*Source - Official website of SAU

University of Central Missouri

Tuition per credit hours

Missouri ResidentUndergraduate: $277.50Graduate: $356.00Non-ResidentUndergraduate: $555.00
Non-resident portion of these fees is $277.50 per credit hour.Graduate: $712.00Online/HybridUndergraduate: $277.50Graduate: $413.50

*Source - Official website of University of Central Missouri

In comparison, SAU is cheaper than University of Central Missouri.

What are the Business course rankings at Southern Arkansas University?

The Business and Management course rankings at Southern Arkansas University are given as follows:

Year US News and World Report- UG Business20194582020460-5162021460-5162022460-5162023460-516
What are people's opinions on Southern arkansas University for MBA?

People generally have good things to say about Southern Arkansas University's MBA program, and here are some reasons -

1. According to a survey done by the university, they really care about what MBA graduates think. They want to know about their experiences and what they expect for their careers.

2. The online MBA programme at Southern Arkansas University is thought of as one of the best in the country.

3. Students and graduates who have shared their thoughts about Southern Arkansas University are happy with it. They've said the staff is really good, the environment is supportive, and being part of the university has positively affected their careers.

4. As per student reviews, most people have a positive view of life at Southern Arkansas University. This includes things like housing, food, campus diversity, and social activities.

Even though these sources say good things about Southern Arkansas University's MBA program, students should still research thoroughly to see if the programme aligns with your career goals and your individual case.

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