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Sacramento State San Francisco State Humboldt State University San Jose State UC Merced Cal State Fullerton Sonoma State University California State University-Fresno Cal State East Bay UC Davis Cal Poly San Diego State| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | California State University Chico | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | CSU | ||
| Location | Magnolia, AR | Chico, CA | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 5,127 | 14,523 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #885 | #660 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | saumag.edu | csuchico.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | CSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,200 | $5,742 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $12,780 | $17,622 | ||
| Room & Board | $7,601 | $16,020 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,164 | $15,187 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,826 | $10,331 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 65% |
Admission |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | CSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,936 | 22,263 | ||
| Admitted | 1,955 | 20,864 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 66.6% | 93.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 40.8% | 10.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.46 | 3.37 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 17/23 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 920/1180 | 970/1170 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 27, 2026 | Dec 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | CSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | CSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 34% | 59% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,900 | $52,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 44% | 70% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,020 | $17,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $175 | $175 |
Diversity |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | CSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 17% | 3% | ||
| % Women | 21% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 63% | 46% | ||
| % Black | 28% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 29% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 5% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 7% |
Students |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | CSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 69% | 97% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 31% | 2% | ||
Campus |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | CSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- California State University Chico is larger than than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus based on total student enrollment (14,523 students vs. 5,127 students)
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. CSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or CSU?
- Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is 25.4% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($7,200.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 37.9% higher at CSU than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($17,622.00 vs. $12,780.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than CSU ($14,164 vs. $15,187)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus are 110.8% lower than costs at California State University Chico ($7,601 vs. $16,020)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than California State University Chico (99% vs. 65%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Chico students is 5.1% larger than aid received Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($10,331 vs. $9,826)
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. CSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or CSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CSU or Southern Arkansas University Main Campus .
- The average SAT score at California State University Chico (1003) is 15 points higher than at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (988)
- Incoming CSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (21)
- Accepted freshman Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at CSU (3.37)
- CSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.7%) than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (66.6%)
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or CSU? 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 CSU and Southern Arkansas University Main Campus.
- The graduation rate at CSU is higher than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (59% vs. 34%)
- Graduates from California State University Chico earn on average $14,500 more per year than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates after ten years. ($52,400 vs. $37,900)
- California State University Chico students graduate with a $20 lower median federal student loan debt than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates. ($17,000 vs. $17,020)
- California State University Chico and Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($175 vs. $175)
- More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 44%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/