Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University is a public university in Jonesboro, AR ranked #655 nationally by EDsmart, earning an overall grade of B, enrolling about 7,994 undergraduates, and with an acceptance rate near 69.7%. Students most often pursue Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research & Clinical Nursing and Computer and Information Sciences.
Inside the classroom, students benefit from a 15:1 student-faculty ratio, 77.8% first-year retention, and 55.1% six-year graduation. Faculty pair challenging syllabi with intentional mentoring so learners keep momentum even as expectations rise.
Families typically invest $13,085, about $3,913 less than the national median. EDsmart calculates return on investment at -25.6%, roughly 110.9 points below typical outcomes. Six years after enrolling, alumni report median earnings of $38,944. That's about $4,744 below national results. Expect the strongest outcomes for students who appreciate an encouraging campus with room to explore.
Who is Arkansas State University Best For?
A quick look at who tends to feel most at home here based on outcomes and campus context.
EDsmart Scores Summary
Arkansas State University graduates 55.1% of students within six years and keeps 77.8% of first-year students. Affordability earns a B+ compared with similar schools.
How we calculate this →Cost & Financial Aid
Quick Answers
The costs shown are averages. Use Arkansas State University's net price calculator to get an estimate based on your family's financial situation.
Calculate Your Net Price →Total Degree Cost Summary
Annual Cost Comparison
Cost of Undergraduate Attendance
Costs based on full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates.
View cost of attendance line items
| Costs to Consider | Price |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $7,754 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,250 |
| On-Campus Room and Board | $11,100 |
| On-Campus Other Expenses | $6,122 |
| Total On-Campus Cost | $22,823 |
Tip: focus on the rows that match your living plan—commuters can swap in off-campus estimates while residential students should budget for housing, meals, and incidental fees.
Students Receiving Aid
Use these bars to gauge how many classmates rely on need-based dollars—lower Pell or loan shares may signal a wealthier student body or generous institutional grants.
EDsmart Insight: About 36.8% of Arkansas State University students receive Pell Grants — in line with the national average, highlighting ongoing affordability priorities.
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual net price after financial aid, based on family income. Your actual cost may vary depending on your specific financial situation.
Understanding These Numbers: Net price varies significantly by income level. Net prices range from $9,806 to $17,431 depending on family income. Use Arkansas State University's net price calculator for a personalized estimate.
If your family earns $75K-$110K: Expect to pay around $15,587/year
If your family earns $110K+: Expect to pay around $17,431/year
See all income brackets →ROI & Career Outcomes
- 6-Year Median Earnings $38,944
- 10-Year Median Earnings $38,944
- Average Years to Graduate 4.5 years
- Average Student Debt $15,000
- Repayment Rate (3yr) 57.6%
- Employment Rate 87.6%
Graduate Earnings Distribution
Earnings range for Arkansas State University graduates 6 years after enrollment, showing the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile. This illustrates the variation in outcomes across different majors and career paths.
Arkansas State University vs. National Average
Comparison of key performance metrics showing how Arkansas State University's outcomes compare to the national average across earnings, graduation rates, retention, ROI, and employment. This contextualizes Arkansas State University's performance within the broader higher education landscape.
EDsmart Insight: While Arkansas State University graduates earn $38,944 median, the -25.6% ROI suggests the investment may take longer to pay off. Consider your major choice and career goals when evaluating value.
Acceptance & Selectivity
Getting In
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading 510-590
- SAT Math 520-590
- SAT Writing Not reported
- ACT Composite 19-25
- SAT & ACT Required
- Undergraduate Enrollment 7,994
- Full-Time Students 95.0%
- Part-Time Students 5.0%
- Retention Rate 77.8%
- Graduation Rate 55.1%
- Student-Faculty Ratio 15:1
How to Get Into Arkansas State University
1. Meet Academic Requirements: Arkansas State University requires strong academic performance. Aim for test scores within the reported ranges and maintain a competitive GPA. Most admitted students rank in the top 10% of their high school class.
2. Build a Strong Application: Beyond test scores, focus on crafting compelling essays, securing strong letters of recommendation, and highlighting extracurricular activities that demonstrate leadership and commitment.
3. Understand Selectivity: With an acceptance rate of 69.7%, Arkansas State University is relatively open. Consider applying early decision if available, as early applicants often have higher acceptance rates.
4. Financial Planning: Review the net price calculator and financial aid options early. Many students receive significant aid, making the actual cost lower than the sticker price.
Tip: Contact the admissions office directly for the most current application requirements, deadlines, and any special programs (like early decision or early action) that might improve your chances.
EDsmart Insight: With a 69.7% acceptance rate, Arkansas State University is more accessible than highly selective schools. Meeting the test score ranges and maintaining a solid GPA significantly improves admission chances. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1030 and 1180 on the SAT.
Academic Programs
Undergraduate Program Distribution
Breakdown of the most popular majors and fields of study among Arkansas State University undergraduates. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research & Clinical Nursing, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Hum, and Business Administration, Management and Operations draw the most students.
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research & Clinical Nursing 11.8%
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Hum 9.9%
- Business Administration, Management and Operations 7.0%
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods 5.9%
- Health and Physical Education/Fitness 4.6%
- Criminology 3.9%
See more majors
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods 3.8%
- Psychology, General 3.5%
Highest Earning Programs
Median earnings five years after graduation for each program. These figures help illustrate ROI by field of study and degree level.
Undergraduate Programs (Bachelor's Degrees)
- 1. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research & Clinical Nursing $81,485
- 2. Computer and Information Sciences, General $81,248
- 3. Civil Engineering $74,874
Show additional high-earning majors
- 4. Mechanical Engineering $73,570
- 5. Engineering, General $73,465
- 6. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research & Clinical Nursing $69,528
- 7. Chemistry $63,165
- 8. Data Processing $62,901
- 9. Biology, General $59,828
- 10. Agricultural Business and Management $59,051
Graduate Programs (Master's, Doctoral, Professional)
- 1. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research & Clinical Nursing (Master's Degree) $163,543
- 2. Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degree) $87,190
- 3. Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degree) $79,149
Show additional graduate majors
- 4. Public Administration (Master's Degree) $77,087
- 5. Homeland Security (Master's Degree) $72,464
- 6. Educational Administration and Supervision (Graduate/Professional Certificate) $70,989
- 7. Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degree) $63,556
- 8. Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Graduate/Professional Certificate) $63,096
- 9. Social Work (Master's Degree) $60,708
- 10. Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degree) $55,413
Program Choice Matters: Undergraduate: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research & Clinical Nursing grads earn $81,485—38% more than Agricultural Business and Management ($59,051). Graduate: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research & Clinical Nursing programs lead with $163,543 median earnings. Your program and degree level choice significantly impact career earnings.
Online Degrees & Distance Learning
College Scorecard reports fully online programs for Arkansas State University. Below are the most popular options based on the number of recent graduates, followed by a quick look at the breadth of online offerings by degree level.
Source: U.S. Department of Education – College Scorecard
Most Popular Online Degrees
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degree, 375 graduates)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degree, 205 graduates)
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degree, 189 graduates)
- Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degree, 167 graduates)
- Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degree, 121 graduates)
What This School Offers Online, at a Glance
College Scorecard flags the following online degree and certificate programs for this institution. Expand each credential level to view the complete list of available subjects.
Online Bachelor's Degrees (48 programs)â–¼
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
- Business Administration, Management and Operations
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
- Health and Physical Education/Fitness
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
- Finance and Financial Management Services
- Agricultural Business and Management
- Biology, General
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
- Accounting and Related Services
- Social Work
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
- Plant Sciences
- Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
- Marketing
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
- Animal Sciences
- History
- Mechanical Engineering
- Data Processing
- English Language and Literature, General
- Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
- Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
- Civil Engineering
- Chemistry
- Fine and Studio Arts
- Mathematics
- Homeland Security
- Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
- Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services
- Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other
- Design and Applied Arts
- Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
- Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
- Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
- Economics
- Special Education and Teaching
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research
- Music
- Journalism
- International Business
- Business/Managerial Economics
- Physics
- Philosophy
- Engineering, General
- Public Health
- Engineering-Related Technologies
Online Master's Degrees (27 programs)â–¼
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
- Health and Physical Education/Fitness
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
- Social Work
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
- Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
- Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
- Biology, General
- Agricultural Business and Management
- History
- English Language and Literature, General
- Communication and Media Studies
- Engineering, General
- Psychology, General
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research
- Music
- Political Science and Government
- Mathematics
- Journalism
- Area Studies
- Sociology
- Criminal Justice and Corrections
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
- Statistics
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Online Doctoral Degrees (3 programs)â–¼
- Area Studies
- Natural Resources Conservation and Research
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
Online Graduate/Professional Certificates (13 programs)â–¼
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
- Student Counseling and Personnel Services
- Data Processing
- Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
- Marketing
- History
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
- Statistics
- Engineering-Related Fields
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
Online Undergraduate Certificates & Diplomas (13 programs)â–¼
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
- Psychology, Other
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
- Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management
- Statistics
- Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
- Marketing
- Management Information Systems and Services
- Health and Physical Education/Fitness
- Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
- Business/Commerce, General
Online First Professional Degrees (2 programs)â–¼
- Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Student Demographics
Student Population
- Total Undergraduate Enrollment 7,994
- Full-Time Students 95.0%
- Part-Time Students 5.0%
- Male Students 37.9%
- Female Students 62.1%
- Caucasian 67.1%
- Asian 1.0%
- Hispanic 4.9%
- Black 14.5%
- Pell Grant Recipients 36.8%
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
Undergraduate student body composition by racial and ethnic background. This reflects Arkansas State University's commitment to diversity and inclusion in admissions.
Gender Distribution
Gender breakdown of Arkansas State University's undergraduate population. The university maintains a roughly balanced gender distribution across its student body.
Graduation Rate Equity Analysis
How well does Arkansas State University support students from different economic backgrounds?
What this means: Lower-income students (Pell Grant recipients) graduate at a different rate as higher-income students, indicating varying levels of institutional support for all economic backgrounds.
Compare graduation rates by race/ethnicity
Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity
Six-year graduation rates for different demographic groups at Arkansas State University, compared to national averages. This shows whether the institution supports all students equitably.
EDsmart Insight: Women make up 62.1% of undergraduates.
Graduation Rate Equity Analysis
How well does Arkansas State University support students from different economic backgrounds?
What this means: Lower-income students (Pell Grant recipients) graduate at a different rate as higher-income students, indicating varying levels of institutional support for all economic backgrounds.
Compare graduation rates by race/ethnicity
Graduation Rates by Race/Ethnicity
Six-year graduation rates for different demographic groups at Arkansas State University, compared to national averages. This shows whether the institution supports all students equitably.
Our Take
Arkansas State University serves as an affordable university for students seeking quality education without elite university costs. Ranked #655 nationally with ROI data not available, the institution balances practical outcomes with budget-friendly pricing.
At $13,085 annually, students gain access to career-focused programs leading to $38,944 median earnings. The 55.1% six-year graduation rate reflects reasonable completion metrics for a university. While 77.8% retention suggests adequate student support.
University Value: Arkansas State University's Strengths
Ranked #655 with a B grade, Arkansas State University prioritizes accessibility and local career connections over national prestige.
Primary Strengths: Universitys like Arkansas State University excel at providing affordable education ($13,085 annually) with strong local employer relationships. Many programs emphasize practical skills and internships within the regional economy.
Best For: Students planning to work in the region after graduation benefit from established employer connections. Adult learners and part-time students appreciate flexible scheduling. First-generation students and budget-conscious families gain degrees without overwhelming debt.
Honest Assessment: Arkansas State University's 77.8% retention and 55.1% six-year graduation rate trail elite universities but align with typical university performance. Career outcomes ($38,944 median earnings) reflect regional job markets more than national opportunities.
Value Verdict: For students committed to regional careers, Arkansas State University and $13,085 cost deliver solid value. Those seeking national job mobility or prestigious credentials should compare against flagship state universities or targeted private scholarships.
Key Takeaways
- 55.1% six-year graduation rate sits 7.4 points below the national 62.5% benchmark.
- 77.8% first-year retention is 1.0 points above the national norm of 76.8%.
- -25.6% return on investment is 110.9 points below the national 85.3% benchmark.
- Median earnings of $38,944 run about 11% lower than national outcomes six years after enrollment.
- Average net price of $13,085 is roughly $6,824 lower than the national median of $19,910.
Helpfulness for Students
- 15:1 student-faculty ratio keeps mentorship close and courses discussion-sized.
- 77.8% first-year retention shows students stay engaged after the first year.
- 87.6% employment rate within three years sits 19.4 points above national outcomes.
- Budget carefully for clinical travel, off-campus housing, and practicum fees to avoid surprise costs.
- Compare aid offers from nearby public universities to weigh the premium for smaller classes.
- Compare aid offers from nearby public universities to weigh the premium for smaller classes.
EDsmart Expert Analysis
EDsmart rates Arkansas State University—a public university in Jonesboro, AR—at B overall. It holds a #655 national ranking Grades by category break down as Completion B, Support B, Career Outcomes B-, and Affordability B+.
Grades are assigned relative to EDsmart's national bachelor's cohort using standardized outcomes (2026 methodology); they reflect how a school compares to peers, not a fixed percentage of a raw point total.
Student momentum is strong: 77.8% retention and 55.1% six-year graduation. Return on investment currently measures -25.6% for this program.
Why it matters: this snapshot shows how likely you are to stay on track academically and whether the outcomes justify the price tag. Letter grades summarize cohort-relative performance—not a single exam-style score.
EDsmart Financial Snapshot
Families pay about $13,085 on average after aid, compared with a published cost near $22,823.
Institutional and federal aid lower costs by roughly $9,738 per year.
Graduates leave with a median of $15,000 in federal loans, which lines up with national norms.
About 36.8% of students receive Pell Grants, giving a snapshot of the campus income mix.
Why it matters: lining up sticker price, aid, and typical debt helps you stress-test the budget before you commit.
EDsmart Career Snapshot
Graduates report median earnings of about $38,944 six years after entry. That sits about 11% below the national median.
Roughly 87.6% of graduates are employed three years out.
Plan around an ROI of about -25.6% according to the Scorecard data.
Why it matters: pairing median earnings with employment rates gives you a sense of payback time after graduation.
EDsmart Admissions Snapshot
69.7% of applicants receive offers, so preparation and fit matter.
The admissions team encourages students to highlight academic strengths through transcripts, essays, and recommendations.
Prospective students can apply early for priority review and lean on the Arkansas State University admissions site for deadlines, visit options, and counselor contacts.
Why it matters: knowing the admit rate and application expectations lets you map out testing, essays, and deadlines with less stress.
Your Decision Toolkit
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Contact Information
- Address Jonesboro, AR 72401
- Website www.astate.edu
- Net Price Calculator Calculate Your Cost
- Financial AidView Financial Aid Information
- AccreditationHigher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
- Endowment$88.8M
- Transfer Enrollment Rate25.9%