South Arkansas College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in El Dorado, Arkansas. It enrolls 862 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes17
Value62
Affordability63
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, South Arkansas College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending South Arkansas College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $7,486 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$7,486
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
41%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
17%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$3,324
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$5,532
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,555
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,555
Books & Supplies
$2,600
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$7,122
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,122
Total Cost of Attendance
$12,932
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$6,690
$30,001 – $48,000
$6,041
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,640
$75,001 – $110,000
$11,305
Over $110,000
$12,932
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,82710%percentile
$3,46725%percentile
$11,153Medianpercentile
$14,76775%percentile
$27,86790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $7,349
↓ $3,804
No Pell $6,000
↓ $5,153
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $5,653
Independent students $8,952
↓ $2,201
Female students $7,250
↓ $3,903
Male students $5,989
↓ $5,164
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($11,153), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
28% of full-time students who enrolled at South Arkansas College graduate within six years, and 55% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
28%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
55%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered South Arkansas College earn a median of $34,521 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$34,521
Earning > $25K
61%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$28,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $14,800, about 34% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$4.6 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
South Arkansas College is home to 862 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 54% are first-generation college students, 55% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
862
Part-Time
55%
First-Generation
54%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 46.6%402
Black 40.4%348
Hispanic 6.7%58
Other 4.3%37
International 1.2%10
Asian 0.4%3
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at South Arkansas College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteEl Dorado, Arkansas
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
32%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
South Arkansas College offers
a varied set of programs:
31 distinct programs across
12 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at South Arkansas College is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,239
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$3.2M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$46,559
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
41 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
8
20%
$57,460
Associate Professors
4
10%
$49,587
Assistant Professors
2
5%
$41,799
Instructors
27
66%
$44,292
Pros & Cons of South Arkansas College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how South Arkansas College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, South Arkansas College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about South Arkansas College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about South Arkansas College.
Is South Arkansas College hard to get into?
South Arkansas College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at South Arkansas College?
South Arkansas College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does South Arkansas College cost?
The average net price after aid at South Arkansas College is $7,486 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is South Arkansas College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $34,521 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,486 per year. That's roughly 4.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is South Arkansas College known for?
South Arkansas College is best known for its programs in Precision Metal Working, Health Sciences, Liberal Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do South Arkansas College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering South Arkansas College are $34,521, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is South Arkansas College accredited?
Yes. South Arkansas College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend South Arkansas College?
South Arkansas College enrolls 862 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at South Arkansas College?
South Arkansas College graduates 28% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is South Arkansas College a public or private college?
South Arkansas College is a Public institution.
Where is South Arkansas College located?
South Arkansas College is located in El Dorado, Arkansas.
What programs does South Arkansas College offer?
South Arkansas College offers 31 distinct programs. The most popular include Precision Metal Working, Health Sciences, Liberal Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at South Arkansas College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at South Arkansas College is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Arkansas
Other colleges in Arkansas share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Liberal Arts
Liberal Arts
Health/Medical Preparatory
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