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A&M Commerce ATU UNT Texas State Tarleton NKU LSU University of Central Arkansas UL Lafayette Lamar University Arkansas State University MSU| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | McNeese State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | McNeese | ||
| Location | Magnolia, AR | Lake Charles, LA | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 5,094 | 6,230 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #868 | #890 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | saumag.edu | mcneese.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | McNeese | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,020 | $5,147 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $12,450 | $6,647 | ||
| Room & Board | $7,809 | $9,878 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,056 | $10,154 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,316 | $9,540 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 88% |
Admission |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | McNeese | ||
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| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,916 | 3,554 | ||
| Admitted | 1,855 | 2,532 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 63.6% | 71.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 38.1% | 41.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.46 | 3.36 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 17/24 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 905/1190 | 970/1180 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 27, 2025 |
Academics |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | McNeese | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | McNeese | ||
| Graduation Rate | 34% | 37% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,900 | $44,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 44% | 49% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,020 | $20,238 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $175 | $209 |
Diversity |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | McNeese | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 45% | 38% | ||
| % Women | 55% | 62% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 63% | 67% | ||
| % Black | 28% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 0% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | McNeese | ||
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| % In-State | 70% | 84% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 8% | ||
Campus |
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | McNeese | ||
| 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
- McNeese State University is larger than than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus based on total student enrollment (6,230 students vs. 5,094 students)
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. McNeese Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or McNeese?
- Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is 36.4% more expensive to attend than McNeese for in-state tuition ($7,020.00 vs. $5,147.00)
- Out of state tuition is 87.3% higher at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than McNeese State University ($12,450.00 vs. $6,647.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at McNeese State University than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($10,154 vs. $14,056)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus are 26.5% lower than costs at McNeese State University ($7,809 vs. $9,878)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than McNeese State University (99% vs. 88%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by McNeese State University students is 2.4% larger than aid received Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($9,540 vs. $9,316)
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. McNeese Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or McNeese? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between McNeese or Southern Arkansas University Main Campus .
- The average SAT score at McNeese State University (1029) is 41 points higher than at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (988)
- Incoming McNeese 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 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at McNeese (3.36)
- McNeese has a higher acceptance rate (71.2%) than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (63.6%)
Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. McNeese Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or McNeese? 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 McNeese and Southern Arkansas University Main Campus.
- The graduation rate at McNeese is higher than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (37% vs. 34%)
- Graduates from McNeese State University earn on average $6,100 more per year than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates after ten years. ($44,000 vs. $37,900)
- Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students graduate with a $3,218 lower median federal student loan debt than McNeese graduates. ($17,020 vs. $20,238)
- Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than McNeese graduates. ($175 vs. $209)
- More McNeese graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 44%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/