Magnolia is a small town in south-west Arkansas, not far from the Louisiana line, and Southern Arkansas University is its biggest institution. SAU started in 1909 as an agricultural school. Today its computer and information science master's draws a large group of graduate students from India, while the undergraduate side is strongest in agriculture, engineering, nursing and teaching. Tuition is low.
Magnolia, Arkansas, United States
Official website: web.saumag.edu
1909
Public university
Magnolia, Arkansas
Muleriders
$12,000 – $16,000
International students, undergraduate and graduate
$9,000 – $12,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on web.saumag.edu before you apply.
MS Computer and Information Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 79
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 79
BS Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 61
BS Agriculture
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 61
A computer science master's that is popular with graduate students from India.
Tuition that is low even by public university standards.
Agriculture teaching with a working university farm.
Computer science graduates move into software and data roles in Texas and across the South.
STEM master's graduates can apply for up to three years of OPT.
Chemical plants near Magnolia, including Albemarle's bromine operations, hire some engineering graduates.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
The campus is compact enough to cross on foot in ten minutes, with residence halls, a student centre and the farm on its edge.
Magnolia is quiet, built around a courthouse square, and holds a blossom festival each spring. Living costs are among the lowest in the US. Shreveport, a little over an hour away, has the nearest bigger airport.
Form I-20 issued by Southern Arkansas University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
SAU reviews applications as they arrive. International students should apply by about June for fall and November for spring, which leaves enough time for the I-20 and the visa appointment.
Programmes start in fall (August) and spring (January). A few graduate courses also admit in summer.
You'll need an F-1 visa. Once you accept your offer and send proof of funding, Southern Arkansas University issues the Form I-20. After that it's the SEVIS fee, the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
The MS in Computer and Information Science is the main draw for international students, followed by the MBA, engineering and agriculture. Master's applicants need a bachelor's degree and IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 79; some programmes also look at GRE or GMAT scores.
SAU has academic scholarships for international undergraduates and some graduate assistantships. Awards are modest because tuition is already low, so ask the international office what you might qualify for.
