Tuition for Arkansas residents attending Southern Arkansas University Main Campus rose by 2.9% during the 2022-23 school year, based on the most recent information released, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Arkansas residents paid $9,680 to attend the public four-year university this year, an increase of $270 from the $9,410 charged in the 2021-22 academic year.
Non-resident students faced tuition fees 56.1% higher than those of in-state students in 2022-23, paying $15,110. This represents a 3.3% increase from the $14,630 charged in the previous year.
Approximately 70% of the undergraduate student body are Arkansas residents, while about 29% come from other states and 1% are international students.
Data indicates that all full-time undergraduates who began studies at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus in 2022-23 received some form of financial aid. A total of 699 students were awarded grants or scholarships amounting to $6.9 million, and 345 students obtained student loans totaling over $2.1 million.
Across the entire undergraduate population, 2,698 students benefited from grants or scholarships totaling $24.4 million. Additionally, 2,099 students borrowed $10.3 million in federal student loans.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
The following data includes only full-time students who began an undergraduate program at the Southern Arkansas University Main Campus in the 2022-23 school year.
| Type of Aid | Number of students awarded aid | Percent awarded aid | Total amount of aid awarded | Average amount of aid per student |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal grants | 382 | 54% | $2.1 million | $5,525 |
| State / local grant or scholarship | 318 | 45% | $417,542 | $1,313 |
| Institutional grants or scholarships | 600 | 85% | $4.3 million | $7,234 |
| Grant or scholarship aid total | 699 | 99% | $6.9 million | $9,826 |
| Federal student loans | 345 | 49% | $1.9 million | $5,491 |
| Other student loans | 21 | 3% | $159,893 | $7,614 |
| Student loan aid | 345 | 49% | $2.1 million | $5,955 |
| Total student aid | 700 | 100% | $8.9 million | $12,746 |
Information in this story was obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics. The source data can be found here.
