Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Magnolia, Arkansas · Public · 2,708 undergraduates · saumag.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test required
Send an SAT or ACT score
Admit rate
75%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
875 to 1105
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$27,400Est.Estimate
$33,690 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
75% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$33,690
a year in 2027-28, from a $33,690 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 990
Send your score
This college requires an SAT or ACT score.
Named scholarships you may qualify for (4)
$6,600 a year
You meet 990 to 1250 SAT or 19 to 26 ACT. Also needs a class rank in the top 10%. · Application required
$3,000 a year
You meet 3.25+ GPA. Also needs an application, essay or interview. · Application required
5 more awards need a higher GPA or score. See every tier
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test required
You must send an SAT or ACT score.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
- Admission standards page: minimum 2.30 cumulative high school GPA of non-remedial courses or ACT 16 composite; placement scores still required
Source: Applying to SAU | Admissions | Southern Arkansas University · Checked October 17, 2026
Who gets in
75%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 875 to 1105
Reading and Writing 450 to 565
Math 425 to 540
ACT composite 17 to 24
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$27,400
a year, in state
$33,690
a year, out of state (tuition $17,030)
- Tuition (in state)$10,740
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$15,526
- $30,001 to $48,000$15,181
- $48,001 to $75,000$16,772
- $75,001 to $110,000$16,922
- Over $110,000$17,733
Financial aidEstimate
83%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
99%
of freshmen receive grants
$11,552
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Presidential Distinguished
$12,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
- 4.00+ GPA, 1360+ SAT or 30+ ACT, ACT 30+ or SAT 1360-1600 AND 4.0+ cumulative GPA; $11,000 off campus
Deadline: Early decision January 15; priority March 1. To keep it: stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules, and stay a full-time student; it renews for 8 semesters.
DetailsPresidential
$11,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
- 3.75+ GPA, 1300+ SAT or 28+ ACT, ACT 28+ or SAT 1300-1600 AND 3.75+ cumulative GPA
Deadline: Early decision January 15; priority March 1. To keep it: stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules, and stay a full-time student; it renews for 8 semesters.
DetailsBlue & Gold Excellence
$7,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
- 1260+ SAT or 27+ ACT, ACT 27+ or SAT 1260+
- 3.75+ GPA, 3.75+ cumulative GPA
Deadline: Early decision January 15; priority March 1. To keep it: stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules, and stay a full-time student; it renews for 8 semesters.
DetailsLeadership Incentive Award
$6,600 a year
Competitive · Application required
- 3.25+ GPA, 1030 to 1150 SAT or 20 to 22 ACT, 3.25+ GPA AND ACT 20-22 or SAT 1030-1150; 2 letters + resume, an application, essay or interview
Deadline: Selections after Mar 1. To keep it: stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules, and stay a full-time student; it renews for 4 semesters.
Details
Show 5 more scholarships
Top 10%
$6,600 a year
Competitive · Application required
- 990 to 1250 SAT or 19 to 26 ACT, Top 10% of class
Deadline: Early decision January 15; priority March 1. To keep it: stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules, and stay a full-time student; it renews for 8 semesters.
DetailsSAU Success
$4,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
- 1160 to 1250 SAT or 24 to 26 ACT
- 3.50 to 3.74 GPA
Deadline: Early decision January 15; priority March 1. To keep it: stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules, and stay a full-time student; it renews for 8 semesters.
DetailsMulerider Scholarship
$3,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
- 3.25+ GPA, Letters of recommendation, an application, essay or interview
Deadline: Early decision January 15; priority March 1. To keep it: stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules, and stay a full-time student; it renews for 8 semesters.
DetailsScholastic Merit
$3,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
- 1060 to 1150 SAT or 21 to 23 ACT
- 3.25 to 3.49 GPA
Deadline: Early decision January 15; priority March 1. To keep it: stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules, and stay a full-time student; it renews for 8 semesters.
DetailsAchievement Award
$2,000 a year
Competitive · Application required
- 960 to 1050 SAT or 18 to 20 ACT
- 3.00 to 3.24 GPA
Deadline: Early decision January 15; priority March 1. To keep it: stay on track toward your degree under the college's academic progress rules, and stay a full-time student; it renews for 8 semesters.
Details
Arkansas programs for residents
Arkansas Governor's Distinguished Scholarship
$10,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.50+ GPA, 1410+ SAT or 32+ ACT, Single tier; Graduating HS senior; FAFSA; apply by March 1; 12 hrs first semester then 15/semester at one institution
Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship (traditional students)
$2,000 to $5,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.00+ GPA, Pathway: HS GPA 3.00 or higher (test score on record, no minimum); Standardized test score (ACT, SAT, Accuplacer or equivalent) on record; FAFSA; apply by July 1; full-time enrollment
- 990+ SAT or 19+ ACT, Pathway: HS GPA below 3.00 with qualifying test score; FAFSA; apply by July 1; enroll full-time (12 hrs first fall, 15/semester after)
Arkansas Governor's Scholars Program (Achievement)
$5,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- Pathway: highest-scoring student in county (ACT/SAT + GPA + class rank); Top-scoring eligible student in county by ACT or SAT score, cumulative GPA and class rank; must apply for Academic Challenge to be considered; FAFSA; deadline July 1, an application, essay or interview
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
31 of 31
Earn credit with a score of 3
31 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,070Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | ART 1043 Two Dimensional Design | |
| Art History | 3 | ART 2013 Art Appreciation | |
| Biology | 3 | BIOL 1043 and BIOL 1041 Introduction to Biology & Lab | |
| Calculus AB | 3 | MATH 1525 Calculus I | |
| Calculus BC | 3 | MATH 1545 Calculus II | |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 3 | MATH 1525 Calculus I | |
| Chemistry | 3 | CHEM 1013/1011 College Chemistry & Lab | |
| Chemistry | 4 | CHEM 1023/1021 and CHEM 1123/1121 University Chemistry I and Lab; University Chemistry II and Lab | |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | PSCI 2003 American Government | |
| Computer Science A | 3 | CSCI 1102 & CSCI 1101 Intro to Computing and Lab | |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | CSCI 1102 & CSCI 1101 Intro to Computing and Lab | |
| Drawing | 3 | ART 1013 Drawing I | |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | ENGL 1113 Composition I | |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | ENGL 1113/1123 Composition I and Composition II | |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | ENGL 1113 Composition I | |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | ENGL 1113/1123 Composition I & Composition II | |
| Environmental Science | 3 | GEOL1003/1001 Physical Geology/Lab | |
| European History | 3 | HIST 1003 World History I | |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | FREN 1053/1063/2033 Elementary French I Elementary French II and Intermediate French I | |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | GERM 1003/1013 Modern German I & II | |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | ECON 2203 Prin of Macroeconomics | |
| Microeconomics | 3 | ECON 2103 Prin of Microeconomics | |
| Music Theory | 3 | MUTH 1093 Fundamentals of Music or MUS 2013 Music Appreciation | |
| Physics 1 | 3 | PHYS 2003 & PHYS 2001 College Physics and Lab | |
| Physics 2 | 3 | PHYS 2103/2101 College Physics II/Lab | |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | PHYS 2003 College Physics | |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | PHYS 2003 College Physics | |
| Psychology | 3 | PSYC 2003 Gen Psychology | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | SPAN 1053/1063/2033 Elementary Spanish I Elementary Spanish II Intermediate Spanish I | |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | SPAN 1053 Elementary Spanish I | |
| Statistics | 3 | GBUS 2013 Quantitative Analysis I | |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | PSCI 2003 American Government | |
| United States History | 3 | HIST 2013 or HIST 2023 US History I or US History II | |
| United States History | 4 | HIST 2013 and HIST 2023 US History I & US History II | |
| World History: Modern | 3 | HIST 1003 or HIST 1013 World History I or World History II | |
| World History: Modern | 4 | HIST 1003 and HIST 1013 World History I & II |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
46%
Come back for a second year
66%
Typical earnings
$46,635
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Southern Arkansas University Main Campus$51,367
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 14 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Southern Arkansas University Main Campus. The Southern Arkansas University Main Campus logo is a trademark of the college.