“Arkansas top-ranked community college delivering workforce-ready technical education since 1967.”
Southern Arkansas University Tech (SAU Tech), located in Camden, Arkansas, is a public two-year community and technical college that has served the Ouachita County region since 1967. Part of the Southern Arkansas University System, SAU Tech holds independent accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and has built a reputation as one of Arkansas's highest-performing community colleges. Nominated for the prestigious 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, SAU Tech consistently earns national recognition for student outcomes, affordability, and workforce alignment. The college serves nearly 1,800 students annually when dual credit and continuing education enrollment is included. SAU Tech offers more than 33 programs of study across associate degrees, technical certificates, and professional credentials. Program strengths include Aviation Maintenance Technology (with NASA Arkansas Space Grant support), Computer Information Technology with a cloud computing emphasis, Industrial Maintenance and Engineering Technology, Health Sciences, Criminal Justice, and Business Administration. Its open admissions policy makes higher education accessible to all qualifying students, while robust aid programs ensure that 92% of enrolled students receive grants or scholarships. The campus occupies a unique 70-acre site on the former Shumaker Naval Ammunition Depot, a setting that gives the college a distinctive character and ample space for hands-on technical training facilities. Beyond traditional academics, SAU Tech operates two state-level training academies: the Arkansas Fire Training Academy (AFTA), which trains firefighters across the entire state, and the Arkansas Environmental Training Academy. These centers position SAU Tech as a critical workforce development hub for public safety, environmental compliance, and industrial sectors. Career outcomes reflect this mission — 95.5% of graduates enter the workforce, with median earnings of approximately $36,376 at the ten-year mark. Small class sizes, an open-door faculty culture, and a tight-knit residential campus of roughly 200 on-campus residents foster close mentoring relationships and a supportive community rarely found at larger institutions.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Top Colleges in Arkansas
EDsmart 2026
Best Online Community Colleges (National)
Best Value Schools
Test Free — No test scores needed — they won't be reviewed even if submitted.
Official SourceRolling Admissions (Domestic)
Applications accepted year-round; no hard deadline
Scholarship Priority Deadline
Foundation scholarship consideration; March 1 annually
This university does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$5,040 – $5,259
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$6,480 – $6,762
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Workforce-aligned AAS degrees and certificates in aviation, IT, industrial trades, welding, and certified production technology.
Programs in allied health, medical office management, medical transcription, and office systems technology.
Associate of Arts degrees designed for seamless transfer to four-year universities within the Arkansas system.
Fire science, criminal justice, and Arkansas Fire Training Academy statewide programming.
2 years
FAA-aligned AAS program preparing graduates for airframe and powerplant (A&P) certification, with NASA Arkansas Space Grant scholarship support of $2,500 available.
2 years
AAS degree with a cloud computing emphasis, pairing academic coursework with industry-relevant certifications for today's IT workforce.
1 years
MSSC-credentialed workforce certificate leading to the nationally recognized CPT credential, opening doors in manufacturing and production industries.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $6,480
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
