Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia
Southern Arkansas University is a public regional university in Magnolia, Arkansas, offering 120+ academic programs across four colleges and a graduate school. It serves traditional, graduate, international, transfer, and concurrent-enrollment students with affordable tuition and AACSB-accredited business programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1909
- HeadquartersMagnolia, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia does
Southern Arkansas University (SAU) is a public regional university founded in 1909, operating on a 300-acre main campus in Magnolia, Arkansas, and governed by the Southern Arkansas University System Board of Trustees. The institution offers more than 120 academic programs across four colleges — Rankin College of Business (AACSB-accredited), College of Education & Human Performance, Dempsey College of Liberal & Performing Arts, and College of Science & Engineering — plus the School of Graduate Studies and an Honors College. SAU maintains a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio and serves five distinct student segments: traditional undergraduates, graduate students, international students, transfer students, and concurrent-enrollment high school students, with undergraduate enrollment recently reported as growing.
SAU's core academic product spans distinctive credentials including the STEM-certified Master of Science in Computer and Information Science with specializations in Data Science, Cybersecurity & Privacy, and Information Technology; a BFA in Game, Animation and Simulation Design with applications across entertainment, medical, transportation, and military verticals; the Rider Residency program (Arkansas's first paid, year-long teacher training residency); and a BFA in Musical Theatre positioned as the most affordable in the state. The university is supported by a standard higher-ed technology stack — Blackboard LMS, Salesforce for enrollment management, Banner ERP, Google Analytics, and Microsoft Outlook — alongside non-academic engagement infrastructure including the Mulerider Esports arena (opened Fall 2023) and NCAA Division I athletics.
SAU's business model is driven by recurring tuition and fees (with $6,894 in-state and $9,810 out-of-state graduate pricing for MCIS), room and board, auxiliary services, state appropriations, grants, and donations managed through the SAU Foundation. Regional tuition waivers are offered to students from Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas meeting housing requirements. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer across campus tours, Preview Days, Transfer Fridays, online and hybrid graduate delivery with rolling admissions, and a multi-channel partnership network including articulation agreements with National Park College and the University of Arkansas at Monticello plus concurrent enrollment partnerships with 15 regional high schools.
Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia
- Legal name
- Southern Arkansas University
- Website
- https://saumag.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1909
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Southern Arkansas University is a public regional university in Magnolia, Arkansas, offering 120+ academic programs across four colleges and a graduate school. It serves traditional, graduate, international, transfer, and concurrent-enrollment students with affordable tuition and AACSB-accredited business programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Magnolia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: SAU generates primary revenue through tuition and mandatory fees from undergraduate and graduate students, with distinct in-state and out-of-state pricing structures.
- Room and Board: On-campus housing and dining services provide recurring revenue through housing applications and meal plans.
- Auxiliary Services: Revenue from bookstore operations, facilities rentals, and various campus services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Graduate In-State Tuition |
| Subscription | Annual | Graduate Out-of-State Tuition |
| Subscription | Annual | Regional Tuition Waiver |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Southern Arkansas University (SAU) is a public higher education institution that delivers more than 120 academic programs across four colleges (Rankin College of Business, College of Education & Human Performance, Dempsey College of Liberal & Performing Arts, and College of Science & Engineering) plus the School of Graduate Studies and Honors College. Programs are offered on-campus in Magnolia, Arkansas, and through expanding online and hybrid formats for graduate and adult learners. Beyond instruction, SAU bundles housing, dining, athletics, student services, and co-curricular programs (esports, club sports, Greek Life) into the student experience.
Product overview
Southern Arkansas University (SAU) is a public university offering more than 120 academic programs across five colleges: Rankin College of Business (AACSB-accredited), College of Education & Human Performance, Dempsey College of Liberal & Performing Arts, College of Science & Engineering, and the Graduate School. The university provides a unified academic platform with specialized programs including Game, Animation and Simulation Design, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, and Business Analytics. SAU also offers co-curricular programs including Mulerider Esports, club sports (Archery, Cornhole, Disc Golf, Fishing, Powerlifting, Soccer, Trap Shooting), Greek Life (16 organizations), and the Rider Residency Program for teacher training. Programs are delivered on-campus, online, and through hybrid formats with rolling admissions for graduate programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Master of Science in Computer and Information Science (MCIS)
Quantifiable outcome
- Ranked #1 Best Small Public College in Arkansas for two consecutive years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- National Park CollegecoreSAU partners with National Park College for bachelor's degree completion, allowing National Park College students to earn four-year degrees through SAU. Celebrated 39 bachelor's degree graduates in one cohort through this partnership arrangement.
- University of Arkansas at MonticellocoreSAU partners with University of Arkansas at Monticello as part of National Park College's bachelor's degree completion program, allowing students to complete four-year degrees through these partnerships.
- Malvern High SchoolminorConcurrent enrollment partnership allowing Malvern High School students to earn college credit while completing high school studies.
- Poyen High SchoolminorConcurrent enrollment partnership allowing Poyen High School students to earn college credit while completing high school studies.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Arkansas State University: A larger public university in Jonesboro, Arkansas serving similar regional markets with broader graduate offerings and a stronger research profile, often drawing students who might otherwise consider SAU for undergraduate or graduate study.
- University of Central Arkansas: A larger Arkansas public university in Conway offering a broader program portfolio but operating in the same state system. Competes for Arkansas students seeking a slightly larger institutional experience and broader alumni network.
Direct peers
- Henderson State University: A small Arkansas public university in Arkadelphia with similar enrollment scale and program breadth, competing directly for the same regional student demographic and state funding pool.
- Southeastern Oklahoma State University: A regional public university in Durant, Oklahoma serving a similar rural student base with comparable tuition structure and program offerings in an adjacent geography to SAU's market.
- Southern University and A&M College: A public HBCU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with comparable program breadth and regional public university profile serving similar Gulf South markets and competing for similar state funding pools.
- University of Arkansas at Monticello: A small public university in southern Arkansas serving similar rural student populations with comparable program offerings. Explicitly mentioned as a transfer pathway partner of SAU, making it both a peer and a strategic collaborator.
- Arkansas Tech University: A regional public university in Russellville, Arkansas offering a similar mix of undergraduate and graduate programs with comparable affordability positioning and small public regional profile within the same state.
- Delta State University: A regional public university in Cleveland, Mississippi serving the Mississippi Delta region with comparable small public university profile, program mix, and rural student demographics.
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana: A regional public university in Natchitoches, Louisiana serving south-central Louisiana markets with similar program breadth and affordability positioning in a neighboring state that benefits from SAU's regional tuition waivers.
Emerging players
- National Park College: A community college in Hot Springs, Arkansas with which SAU has articulation agreements. Acts as a 2-year feeder pipeline feeding SAU's bachelor's degree completion programs, including a recent cohort of 39 graduates.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia social profiles
Digital presenceSouthern Arkansas University, Magnolia compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia
What does Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia do?
Southern Arkansas University (SAU) is a public higher education institution that delivers more than 120 academic programs across four colleges (Rankin College of Business, College of Education & Human Performance, Dempsey College of Liberal & Performing Arts, and College of Science & Engineering) plus the School of Graduate Studies and Honors College. Programs are offered on-campus in Magnolia, Arkansas, and through expanding online and hybrid formats for graduate and adult learners. Beyond instruction, SAU bundles housing, dining, athletics, student services, and co-curricular programs (esports, club sports, Greek Life) into the student experience.
Is Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia a public or private company?
Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia founded?
Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia was founded in 1909. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia based?
Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia is headquartered in Magnolia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are room and Board and auxiliary Services.
Who are Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Arkansas State University and University of Central Arkansas. Direct peers are Henderson State University, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Southern University and A&M College, University of Arkansas at Monticello, Arkansas Tech University, Delta State University and Northwestern State University of Louisiana. National Park College is listed as an emerging player.
Does Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia have an API?
No public API is recorded for Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia.