Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. St. Cloud State University

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

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus St. Cloud State University
Location Magnolia, AR Saint Cloud, MN
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 5,094 10,420
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #868 #710
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website saumag.edu stcloudstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus St. Cloud State University
Tuition (In State) $7,020 $8,811
Tuition (Out of State) $12,450 $18,695
Room & Board $7,809 $9,950
Avg Net Price $14,056 $14,065
Avg Grant Aid $9,316 $6,042
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 98%

Admission

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus St. Cloud State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,916 4,810
Admitted 1,855 4,583
Acceptance Rate 63.6% 95.3%
Enrolled % 38.1% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/24 18/24
SAT Range 905/1190 1027/1200
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 27, 2025 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus St. Cloud State University
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 (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus St. Cloud State University
Graduation Rate 34% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,900 $46,700
Making Student Loan Payments 44% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,020 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $175 $232

Diversity

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus St. Cloud State University
% Men 45% 43%
% Women 55% 57%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 63% 73%
% Black 28% 7%
% Hispanic 3% 3%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 3% 7%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus St. Cloud State University
% In-State 70% 75%
% Out-of-State 29% 11%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Saint Cloud State University is larger than than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus based on total student enrollment (10,420 students vs. 5,094 students)

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. St. Cloud State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or St. Cloud State University?

  • Saint Cloud State University is 25.5% more expensive to attend than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus for in-state tuition ($8,811.00 vs. $7,020.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 50.2% higher at St. Cloud State University than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($18,695.00 vs. $12,450.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than St. Cloud State University ($14,056 vs. $14,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus are 27.4% lower than costs at Saint Cloud State University ($7,809 vs. $9,950)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than Saint Cloud State University (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students is 54.2% larger than aid received Saint Cloud State University ($9,316 vs. $6,042)

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. St. Cloud State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Saint Cloud State University (1030) is 42 points higher than at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (988)
  • Incoming St. Cloud State University 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 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at St. Cloud State University (3.4)
  • St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (63.6%)

Southern Arkansas University Main Campus vs. St. Cloud State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or St. Cloud State University? 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 St. Cloud State University and Southern Arkansas University Main Campus.

  • The graduation rate at St. Cloud State University is higher than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (48% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $8,800 more per year than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $37,900)
  • Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students graduate with a $5,480 lower median federal student loan debt than St. Cloud State University graduates. ($17,020 vs. $22,500)
  • Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than St. Cloud State University graduates. ($175 vs. $232)
  • More St. Cloud State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 44%)

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