Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. LSUA

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

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus LSUA
Location Magnolia, AR Alexandria, LA
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 5,127 5,330
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #885 #978
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website saumag.edu lsua.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus LSUA
Tuition (In State) $7,200 $4,950
Tuition (Out of State) $12,780 $5,120
Room & Board $7,601 $9,598
Avg Net Price $14,164 $8,081
Avg Grant Aid $9,826 $6,874
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 89%

Admission

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus LSUA
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,936 706
Admitted 1,955 654
Acceptance Rate 66.6% 92.6%
Enrolled % 40.8% 73.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.16
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23 17/22
SAT Range 920/1180 880/1140
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 27, 2026

Academics

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus LSUA
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Biology (5%)
  • Health Professions (37%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (21%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus LSUA
Graduation Rate 34% 12%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,900 $35,700
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 46%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,020 $17,707
Median Loan Payment $175 $183

Diversity

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus LSUA
% Men 17% 7%
% Women 21% 10%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 63% 67%
% Black 28% 18%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 1% 4%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus LSUA
% In-State 69% 90%
% Out-of-State 31% 6%

Campus

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus LSUA
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

  • Louisiana State University Alexandria is larger than than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus based on total student enrollment (5,330 students vs. 5,127 students)

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. LSUA Cost Comparison

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

  • Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is 45.5% more expensive to attend than LSUA for in-state tuition ($7,200.00 vs. $4,950.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 149.6% higher at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than Louisiana State University Alexandria ($12,780.00 vs. $5,120.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Louisiana State University Alexandria than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($8,081 vs. $14,164)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus are 26.3% lower than costs at Louisiana State University Alexandria ($7,601 vs. $9,598)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than Louisiana State University Alexandria (99% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students is 42.9% larger than aid received Louisiana State University Alexandria ($9,826 vs. $6,874)

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. LSUA Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (988) is 38 points higher than at LSUA (950)
  • Incoming Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at LSUA (20)
  • Accepted freshman Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at LSUA (3.16)
  • LSUA has a higher acceptance rate (92.6%) than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (66.6%)

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. LSUA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is higher than Louisiana State University Alexandria (34% vs. 12%)
  • Graduates from Southern Arkansas University Main Campus earn on average $2,200 more per year than LSUA graduates after ten years. ($37,900 vs. $35,700)
  • Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students graduate with a $687 lower median federal student loan debt than LSUA graduates. ($17,020 vs. $17,707)
  • Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than LSUA graduates. ($175 vs. $183)
  • More LSUA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students, three years after graduation. (46% vs. 44%)

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