Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. Coastal Carolina

Should I go to Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Coastal Carolina University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Coastal Carolina 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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Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. Coastal Carolina University comparison
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Coastal Carolina University College 3 College 4
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Coastal Carolina University
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Overview

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Coastal Carolina
Location Magnolia, AR Conway, SC
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 5,094 10,337
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #868 #821
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website saumag.edu coastal.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Coastal Carolina
Tuition (In State) $7,020 $11,460
Tuition (Out of State) $12,450 $28,310
Room & Board $7,809 $10,628
Avg Net Price $14,056 $14,016
Avg Grant Aid $9,316 $10,610
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 88%

Admission

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Coastal Carolina
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,916 17,161
Admitted 1,855 13,493
Acceptance Rate 63.6% 78.6%
Enrolled % 38.1% 19.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.72
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/24 20/25
SAT Range 905/1190 1020/1190
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 27, 2025

Academics

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Coastal Carolina
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Biology (5%)
  • Business (30%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Coastal Carolina
Graduation Rate 34% 46%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,900 $42,200
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,020 $24,930
Median Loan Payment $175 $257

Diversity

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Coastal Carolina
% Men 45% 45%
% Women 55% 55%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 63% 68%
% Black 28% 20%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 5%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Coastal Carolina
% In-State 70% 31%
% Out-of-State 29% 68%

Campus

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Coastal Carolina
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

  • Coastal Carolina University is larger than than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus based on total student enrollment (10,337 students vs. 5,094 students)

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. Coastal Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Coastal Carolina?

  • Coastal Carolina University is 63.2% more expensive to attend than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus for in-state tuition ($11,460.00 vs. $7,020.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 127.4% higher at Coastal Carolina than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($28,310.00 vs. $12,450.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Coastal Carolina University than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($14,016 vs. $14,056)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus are 36.1% lower than costs at Coastal Carolina University ($7,809 vs. $10,628)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than Coastal Carolina University (99% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Coastal Carolina University students is 13.9% larger than aid received Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($10,610 vs. $9,316)

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. Coastal Carolina Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Coastal Carolina University (1009) is 21 points higher than at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (988)
  • Incoming Coastal Carolina students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (21)
  • Accepted freshman Coastal Carolina students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (3.46)
  • Coastal Carolina has a higher acceptance rate (78.6%) than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (63.6%)

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. Coastal Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina and Southern Arkansas University Main Campus.

  • The graduation rate at Coastal Carolina is higher than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (46% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Coastal Carolina University earn on average $4,300 more per year than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates after ten years. ($42,200 vs. $37,900)
  • Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students graduate with a $7,910 lower median federal student loan debt than Coastal Carolina graduates. ($17,020 vs. $24,930)
  • Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates are paying $82 less per month on federal student loans than Coastal Carolina graduates. ($175 vs. $257)
  • More Coastal Carolina graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 44%)

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