Henderson State University vs. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Should I go to Henderson State University or Southern Arkansas University Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Henderson State University or Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Henderson State University vs. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus comparison
Henderson State University Southern Arkansas University Main Campus College 3 College 4
Henderson State University Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
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Overview

Henderson State University Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Location Arkadelphia, AR Magnolia, AR
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 2,519 5,094
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #976 #868
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hsu.edu saumag.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Henderson State University Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Tuition (In State) $5,880 $7,020
Tuition (Out of State) $8,088 $12,450
Room & Board $9,558 $7,809
Avg Net Price $17,656 $14,056
Avg Grant Aid $9,580 $9,316
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 99%

Admission

Henderson State University Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,345 2,916
Admitted 1,657 1,855
Acceptance Rate 70.7% 63.6%
Enrolled % 24.9% 38.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.46
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 16/21 17/24
SAT Range 903/1073 905/1190
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025 Aug 27, 2025

Academics

Henderson State University Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Biology (5%)

Outcomes

Henderson State University Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Graduation Rate 31% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $37,900
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 44%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $17,020
Median Loan Payment $201 $175

Diversity

Henderson State University Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
% Men 40% 45%
% Women 60% 55%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 66% 63%
% Black 24% 28%
% Hispanic 4% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 4% 0%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Henderson State University Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
% In-State 81% 70%
% Out-of-State 19% 29%

Campus

Henderson State University Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is larger than than Henderson State University based on total student enrollment (5,094 students vs. 2,519 students)

Henderson State University vs. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Henderson State University or Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?

  • Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is 19.4% more expensive to attend than Henderson State University for in-state tuition ($7,020.00 vs. $5,880.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 53.9% higher at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than Henderson State University ($12,450.00 vs. $8,088.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than Henderson State University ($14,056 vs. $17,656)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus are 22.4% lower than costs at Henderson State University ($7,809 vs. $9,558)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than Henderson State University (99% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Henderson State University students is 2.8% larger than aid received Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($9,580 vs. $9,316)

Henderson State University vs. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Henderson State University or Southern Arkansas University Main Campus? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Henderson State University .

  • The average SAT score at Henderson State University (988) is the same at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (988)
  • Incoming Henderson State University students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (21)
  • Accepted freshman Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Henderson State University (3.23)
  • Henderson State University has a higher acceptance rate (70.7%) than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (63.6%)

Henderson State University vs. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Henderson State University or Southern Arkansas University Main Campus? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Southern Arkansas University Main Campus and Henderson State University.

  • The graduation rate at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is higher than Henderson State University (34% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Henderson State University earn on average $500 more per year than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates after ten years. ($38,400 vs. $37,900)
  • Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students graduate with a $2,480 lower median federal student loan debt than Henderson State University graduates. ($17,020 vs. $19,500)
  • Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Henderson State University graduates. ($175 vs. $201)
  • More Henderson State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 44%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/