Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus

Southern Arkansas University's liberal arts degree leaves graduates earning roughly $31,000 in their first year—about $2,000 below Arkansas' state median and $5,400 below the national average for this major. While the program sits at the 40th percentile among Arkansas schools, that still means several in-state alternatives deliver meaningfully better outcomes, including University of Arkansas at Monticello where graduates earn $10,000 more annually. The debt load of $28,228 translates to a near 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio, which is manageable but offers little cushion given the modest starting salary.

The school serves a substantial population of Pell Grant recipients (45%), suggesting it plays an important access role in southern Arkansas. However, from a pure return-on-investment standpoint, families should weigh this against other state options. At $31,000 annually, graduates will face real constraints on loan repayment and building financial security in their twenties, particularly if they remain in Arkansas where cost of living is lower but so are wages.

If your student is committed to liberal arts and considering SAU, understand they're likely trading lower earnings for other factors—perhaps campus fit, proximity to home, or specific faculty relationships. Just ensure those intangible benefits are substantial enough to justify earning $2,000-$10,000 less than they would at peer institutions across the state.