
Southern Arkansas University competes in NCAA Division II athletics as a member of the Great American Conference. Its varsity teams are known as the Muleriders; representative sports include football, basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball.
Varsity participation involves team selection and conference competition. It should not be confused with recreational exercise, informal games, or any intramural activities offered in a particular term. Students who want to compete should check the current team roster, recruiting process, and NCAA eligibility rules. A list of sports associated with campus activity does not mean that each is an SAU varsity team or that athletic aid is available for it.
SAU offers routes into campus involvement through student government, activities programming, residence-based groups, and academic or interest-based organizations. Examples identified in university student-life information include the Student Government Association, Student Activities Board, Residence Hall Association, and International Student Association.
These groups serve different purposes: student government represents student concerns, while an activities board helps organize events. Academic clubs, arts groups, service organizations, and other recognized groups can offer connections beyond a student's major or residence hall. Organization names and active membership can change, so the current student-organization directory is more useful than an older list when deciding whom to contact. Participation in a recognized organization is also distinct from using a university service such as advising or counseling.
SAU's reported enrollment is 4,732 students. Its entering population includes both first-time students and transfers: the reported counts were 709 first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates and 183 transfer-in students.
Reported geographic figures indicate that about 71% of students came from Arkansas and 29% from other U.S. states. The student body also includes people beyond the traditional first-year age range, so prospective transfer and returning students are not the only applicants with previous college or life experience. Separate demographic reports may cover different years or student groups; their counts should not be combined as though they describe one identical population. For a prospective student, the enrollment figures describe the institution's scale, not the size of a particular class or major.
SAU combines residential campus activities with a substantial commuter population. Reported housing figures place about 51% of students on campus and 49% commuting, a distinction that can affect when students are available for meetings, performances, and evening events.
Beyond classes, students can attend campus programs, take part in performing arts, and use student support services. SAU reports a health clinic and personal or psychological counseling, alongside services for veterans. Orientation and academic advising are especially worth examining for a first-time student learning how to register and navigate degree requirements. A commuter may want to check evening parking and event schedules; a residential student may place more weight on weekend programming and access to services outside class hours.
Magale Library is SAU's main campus library. It provides a place to consult academic materials and work on coursework, rather than relying solely on textbooks or general web searches.
Students should use the library's current catalog and research guides to identify books, scholarly articles, and subject-specific databases available through the university. Research help can be particularly useful when an assignment calls for peer-reviewed evidence or a citation style unfamiliar to the student. The reported library profile does not identify a routinely open 24-hour study area, so anyone planning late-night work should check current building hours and remote-access options. Availability of study spaces and borrowing services should likewise be checked against current library policies.
Total enrollment
4732Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen
650Member of Athletic Associations
NCAATotal staff
153 full time, 165 part timeVeterans affair office
YesVarsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).
Sport
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Cheerleading
Cross-country running
Football
Golf
Sand volleyball
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and diving
Table tennis
Tennis
Track and field
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
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.