Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. NSU

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

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus NSU
Location Magnolia, AR Tahlequah, OK
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 5,094 6,702
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #868 #933
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website saumag.edu nsuok.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus NSU
Tuition (In State) $7,020 $6,285
Tuition (Out of State) $12,450 $15,270
Room & Board $7,809 $8,292
Avg Net Price $14,056 $9,669
Avg Grant Aid $9,316 $8,528
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 96%

Admission

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,916 1,674
Admitted 1,855 1,665
Acceptance Rate 63.6% 99.5%
Enrolled % 38.1% 42.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.49
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/24 17/23
SAT Range 905/1190 875/1130
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 NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Biology (5%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus NSU
Graduation Rate 34% 26%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,900 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 48%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,020 $18,000
Median Loan Payment $175 $186

Diversity

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus NSU
% Men 45% 35%
% Women 55% 65%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 63% 50%
% Black 28% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 1% 19%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 17%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus NSU
% In-State 70% 91%
% Out-of-State 29% 8%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northeastern State University is larger than than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus based on total student enrollment (6,702 students vs. 5,094 students)

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. NSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is 11.7% more expensive to attend than NSU for in-state tuition ($7,020.00 vs. $6,285.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22.7% higher at NSU than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($15,270.00 vs. $12,450.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northeastern State University than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($9,669 vs. $14,056)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus are 6.2% lower than costs at Northeastern State University ($7,809 vs. $8,292)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than Northeastern State University (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students is 9.2% larger than aid received Northeastern State University ($9,316 vs. $8,528)

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (988) is the same at NSU (988)
  • Incoming Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at NSU (21)
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (3.46)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (63.6%)

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is higher than Northeastern State University (34% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Northeastern State University earn on average $2,300 more per year than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates after ten years. ($40,200 vs. $37,900)
  • Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students graduate with a $980 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($17,020 vs. $18,000)
  • Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($175 vs. $186)
  • More NSU 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/