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Arkansas State University

#976 in US ranking Jonesboro, AR
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$26,511
Tuition & fees
$8,090
Avg. aid
$9,974
Receiving aid
98%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
82%
SAT range
970–1190
ACT range
18–24

Outcomes

Graduation rate
55%
Median salary
$45,817
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of Arkansas State University?

Arkansas State University holds institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole; it is separate from any specialized review of an individual degree program.

Accreditation matters because attendance at an eligible, accredited institution is a basic condition for participation in federal student aid programs. It can also matter when another college evaluates transfer credit, although accreditation alone does not require that college to accept a particular course. Students entering licensed professions should check the current accreditation and approval status of their specific program, along with the rules of the state where they intend to practice. Institutional accreditation by itself does not establish eligibility for every professional license.

What are the admission requirements at Arkansas State University?

First-year applicants generally apply to Arkansas State with a secondary-school record showing high school completion or an accepted equivalent. The university considers academic performance and may consider ACT or SAT scores, but test scores are not listed as universally required for admission.

Applicants should be prepared to submit the university application and the transcripts requested for their applicant category. Secondary-school GPA and records are part of the admissions review; class rank and completion of a college-preparatory program may be considered but are not universal requirements. Recommendations and a formal demonstration of competencies are not generally listed as required first-year materials. Some majors have additional entry or progression standards after general university admission.

In the reported entering class, Arkansas State admitted about 82% of first-time applicants. Among students who enrolled, ACT scores were much more commonly submitted than SAT scores; the reported composite medians were 23 for the ACT and 1115 for the SAT. These are descriptions of enrolled students, not minimum qualifying scores or predictions of an individual decision.

International applicants may need to document English-language proficiency, including through an accepted test such as TOEFL, and meet additional document requirements. Because deadlines and testing rules can differ for international, graduate, online, and program-specific applicants, the applicable admissions checklist matters more than a general university-wide summary.

What are the application fees and waivers at Arkansas State University?

The reported undergraduate application fee for Arkansas State University is $30. Applicants should confirm the amount displayed for their application type before submitting payment; graduate, international, or specialized applications may follow different procedures.

An application fee is a charge for processing an application, not a tuition payment or a promise of admission. Applicants who may qualify for a waiver should ask the admissions office about eligibility and documentation before paying or submitting the application. A waiver should not be assumed merely because an applicant qualifies for financial aid, and a fee that has already been paid may not be refundable.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Arkansas State University?

Army ROTC is available on Arkansas State University's Jonesboro campus. It provides an officer-training route that students can pursue alongside an academic major.

Participating in introductory ROTC coursework is not the same as accepting an ROTC scholarship or committing to military service. Scholarship applicants and students seeking to commission must meet separate academic, medical, fitness, and citizenship or eligibility rules; contracting can create a service obligation. Prospective cadets should review those terms with the campus Army ROTC unit before making a commitment. Students interested in another military branch should verify a specific cross-enrollment arrangement rather than assume one is available.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Arkansas State University?

Arkansas State accepts applications from transfer students and generally considers credit earned at other accredited institutions. Fall, spring, and summer entry are available, but being admitted to the university and having every previous course count toward a chosen degree are separate decisions.

Transfer applicants should arrange official transcripts from each college attended and check whether their amount of completed college work triggers any high school-record requirements. The applicable GPA standard, deadlines, and additional criteria can vary by applicant or program. Nursing, education, and other sequenced majors may have prerequisites or limited entry points that make an early course-by-course review especially important.

Arkansas State also reports accepting certain examination or evaluated credits, including AP, CLEP, and qualifying ACE-recommended learning, subject to university rules. Applicants can compare courses through the university's transfer-equivalency resources, but an official evaluation determines how accepted credit applies to general education, a major, and graduation requirements. A course awarded as elective credit may not replace a required course. Before enrolling, transfer students should request a degree audit showing both remaining requirements and any minimum credits that must be completed at Arkansas State.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Arkansas State University?

Arkansas State students may explore international study through university-approved study-abroad opportunities, including options organized around a semester or a shorter academic period. The available destinations and formats can change, so a past program should not be treated as a standing offering.

The academic question is whether a proposed experience will satisfy degree requirements. Students should obtain approval for courses and credit before departure, particularly if a partner institution or outside provider delivers the instruction. They should also compare the program fee, travel and living expenses, passport or visa requirements, and how their particular financial aid package would apply. Study-abroad advising and a major adviser can address different parts of that decision.

Arkansas State University Admissions Factors

SAT range
970–1190
4001600
ACT range
18–24
136
Acceptance rate
82%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
82%
Arkansas
74%
US
78%

20% of admitted students enrolled (1,969 of 10,078)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 6-11
ACT in range 12-17
ACT in range 18-23
ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

Arkansas State University Admissions

Applicants
Total: 12,252
Admission
Total: 10,078
Enrolled
Total: 1,969
Women
Men

How to Apply to Arkansas State University

Application fee

$30

Early Decision

No

Early Action

No

Arkansas State University First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 1,373
Out-of-state: 278
International: 318

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 1,969
Transfer: 1,038

Arkansas State University Admission Requirements

Median composite SAT score

1115

Median composite ACT score

23

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

86.6%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

2.7%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Considered but not required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Considered but not required

Recommendations

Neither required nor recommended

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Considered but not required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

No

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit on campus

Study abroad

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

Arkansas State University Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring, Summer

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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