Southern Arkansas University

OVERVIEW

Southern Arkansas University “feels like home,” with personalized tours; faculty and staff who are passionate about student success; and a caring campus community. SAU also offers traditional and unique academic degree programs that are ranked nationally for quality and affordability.

Nestled in a quiet and beautiful part of south Arkansas, SAU is a great place to call home and to study a broad range of academic programs, including some unique offerings to the state and region. Along with boasting a complete college experience on campus, the university is a short drive from outdoor activities and is central to many regional hubs, such as Texarkana, Shreveport, Little Rock, etc. It is no surprise that SAU has attracted students from more than 36 states and 31 countries.

Established in 1909, SAU has continued to build on its dedication to student achievement and to grow, both on-campus and online, with more than 80 degrees in four distinct colleges and the School of Graduate Studies.

ACADEMICS

As career and professional trends change, SAU initiates new degree programs to fit those needs. The latest additions include an exciting new cybersecurity computer science program, a unique welding engineering technology SAU System program, and a new track in the Master of Business Administration program for social entrepreneurship.

Also off to a resounding start is Arkansas’ most affordable complete Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in musical theater, for which the curtains opened in fall 2015. BFA students acquire 70 to 80 hands-on hours specific to their fields of study. In fall 2014, SAU established the only Arkansas engineering program south of Little Rock. This program was built on strong support from regional industry, meaning incoming SAU engineering students will not only gain valuable internship opportunities, but will also have high-paying jobs waiting for them upon graduation. These exciting programs follow SAU’s induction in fall 2013 of the computer game and animation design programs — the first complete degree program of its kind in Arkansas. The Rankin College of Business has added entrepreneurship and the valuable supply-chain management programs.

CAMPUS LIFE

The list of opportunities available outside of the classroom at SAU is as broad and diverse as the list of degree programs. While earning a degree at SAU, students can find a niche to match any interest through more than 60 student organizations.

The intramural sports program is run out of the Mulerider Activity Center and is vibrant each fall and spring semester. For die-hard sports fans and athletes, SAU is a competitive member of the NCAA Division II and part of the Great American Conference. Men’s teams compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, track and field, football and golf. Women’s teams compete in volleyball, basketball, cross country, track and field, softball and golf. The SAU bass-fishing team has caught the attention of the region, and the SAU rodeo team is nationally competitive and consistently ranks high in regional and national intercollegiate competitions. The men’s and women’s disc-golf teams have already hosted tournaments on SAU’s new 18-hole competitive disc-golf course.

Also added just in the past year are four high-quality sand volleyball courts and 30 beautiful Mule Rides bicycles, which students can use for function or fun (and for free) to ride all across campus and town.

FACILITIES

Building on a strong foundation, SAU continues to grow, with new construction updating the landscape of the campus. By fall 2019, SAU will have added five new residence halls to accommodate its enrollment growth. Other campus additions over the past few years include new track and softball facilities and a lighted scenic walking trail.

Currently under construction is a Panda Express restaurant on campus, being added to SAU’s already popular campus dining options that include Chick-fil-A, Subway, Java City, and the Blue and Gold Cafeteria. The academic heart of any university is its library, and SAU’s Magale Library provides access to more than 152,000 books, 75 databases, more than 12,000 full-text publications and cozy, quiet study rooms and comfortable seating areas.

Southern Arkansas University has a growing campus that is located in a beautiful part of the state. SAU is home to more than 60 student organizations and is competitive in NCAA Division II athletics and the Great American Conference.