Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Southern Arkansas University
100 E. UNIVERSITY ST. | MAGNOLIA | WWW.SAUMAG.EDU | 870-235-4000
Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia “feels like home,” thanks to the Culture of Caring that has been embraced by faculty, staff and administration for more than a century, dating back to the earliest years of the institution. Established in 1909, SAU was built on its dedication to student achievement and continues to grow on campus and online.
With a diverse student body representing 40 states and 39 countries, SAU is nestled in south Arkansas’ beautiful pine forests and provides unique opportunities in a caring atmosphere. The university’s academic programs, ranked nationally for quality and affordability, include a vibrant mix of traditional offerings with unique new degrees that meet employment needs.
SAU offers more than 80 degree programs in undergraduate and graduate studies and will add the new Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in rural and diverse educational leadership this fall. The school continually strives to update its offerings and refine existing courses into best-of-class programs. These include unique team sports such as trapshooting, rodeo, disc golf, fishing and eSports.
The new poultry science degree option provides students with individualized training not available in larger programs. The university opened the First Financial Bank Poultry Education Facility to fulfill the fast-growing poultry industry’s needs.
SAU nursing graduates ranked No. 1 among state-supported four-year universities in Arkansas for first-time NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) pass rate, as reported by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.
The SAU Engineering program has been accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology), and the Rankin College of Business has been accredited by the AACSB (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), which designates the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide.
In fall 2020, during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, SAU surpassed prior-year enrollment numbers, excluding high school enrollment, to record the highest freshman retention rate in the institution’s history.
“This year presents challenges, no doubt,” said Trey Berry, SAU’s president, “but together, we are #MuleriderStrong and will make it our most successful year yet.”