University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlights the best programs.

Get Matched With Online Colleges

Henderson State University (HSU) is a small, public university located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. With 2,600 undergraduate students, HSU was originally a private institution founded in 1890. Thus, the campus has a rich academic heritage. Their updated mission still strives to provide a foundation for lifelong learning but adds an emphasis on personal growth in a global society.


Overview of Henderson State University (HSU)


When it comes to academics, HSU is top of the class. Undergraduate students can enroll in major degree programs through the college of arts and sciences, the school of business, or Henderson's teacher's college. The campus also supports a graduate school and an honors college.

To help students attain a well-rounded education, HSU offers a range of institutional and recreational options. Some may enroll in an international program and study abroad, while others prepare for a military career through the campus ROTC program. Most students will seek out some form of recreation once class is out. The student recreation center is a campus hub that offers students a gym for pick-up games of basketball, group exercise rooms, ample workout machines, as well as outdoor sports including swimming. There are also intramural sports for those who desire team building and competition. Sports include many of the usual suspects, such as flag football and kickball, but also offer competition in games/sports such as dominoes, spades, poker, and perhaps interested students could lobby for an E-sports league.

General Information


School Type Public
Campus Setting Town: Distant
Campus Housing Yes
Student Faculty Ratio 14:1
Graduation Rate 39%
Year Founded 1890

Student Enrollment


Total Students4,037

Undergraduate
3,430
Graduate
607

Undergraduate Student

Male 1,441
1,441
Female 1,989
1,989

Graduate Student

Male 255
255
Female 352
352

Explore Map

HSU Acceptance Rate and Admissions


APPLICATIONS3,879

Male 1,413
Female 2,466

ACCEPTANCE2,948

Male 1,060
Female 1,874

Acceptance Rate76%

Male 75%
Female 76%

Enrollment 796

Male 342
Female 454
Admissions
Application Fee N/A
High School GPA Required
High School Rank Required
High School Transcripts Required
College Prep Courses N/A
Recommendations N/A
SAT/ACT Required
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Required
Application Deadline Rolling
Common Application Accepted No

HSU Tuition Cost & Financial Aid


HSU students and their families all need to know how much their education will cost. Since HSU is publicly funded by the taxpayers of Arkansas, the price is far less than most private institutions, at least for Arkansas residents. In fact, a year of tuition, books, and supplies runs just around $10,000 for Arkansas residents. Non-residents pay only around $12,000 for the same academic experience. After room, board, and other living expenses are tallied, the gross price tag rises significantly. Arkansas residents pay between $26,000 for off-campus living, and $27,000 for on-campus amenities. Non-residents spend upwards of $29,000 to live on campus. However, these costs fall dramatically after the financial aid office applies grants and scholarships.

Students and their families often breathe a sigh of relief when they learn that the net price is a fraction of the gross cost. In fact, the average net price is a mere $14,000, which includes all costs, including living expenses. This number falls below $14k to just over $13,500 for the lowest income students and doesn't quite hit $16,000 for students from families that earn over $110,000 per year.

Average net price 2018-2019
Net Price $11,910
Average Total Aid $8,486
Students Receiving Financial Aid 99%
Room & Board $7,880

Sticker Price


  • Tuition In-State - $8,902
  • Tuition Out-of-State - $10,612
  • Books and Supplies - $2,000
  • Room & Board - $7,880
  • Other - $6,318

Academics


Henderson State University students are nothing if not scholars. While their first lesson may be to figure out the etymology of their newfound city, Arkadelphia, that is far from their last. Researchers have dug deep to learn more about HSU's academic standing. To assess the institution, researchers look at HSU's retention rate and graduation rate, among other statistics. The retention rate is a statistic that reveals student loyalty to their school. In particular, it is a measure of how many full-time, first-time students return to campus for their second year of studies. A high number indicates strong satisfaction with the faculty, curriculum, and campus resources. It's presumed that students won't stay long in a school that does not meet their expectations for quality education.

The graduation rate, on the other hand, indicates how many students not only return to campus but who do the hard work to pass all of their classes and receive a diploma. While HSU reports and overall graduation rate of 34%, they also report that 21% of students transfer to other schools. Since most transfer students are highly motivated and seek out specific academic challenges, these students are considered as having received a solid academic footing. Thus, while only 34% receive an HSU sheepskin, it can be surmised that 55% receive a diploma from some institution after getting their start here.

Student Population Total


Student Population 4,037

Undergraduate
3,430
Graduate
607
Evening Classes : No
Online Learning : Yes

Most Popular Programs & Majors

(# of Diplomas Awarded by Subject)


All Education Majors 86 Total Graduates / 18%
Elementary Education and Teaching 53 Graduates
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 12 Graduates
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching 8 Graduates
Social Science Teacher Education 6 Graduates
All Business Majors 65 Total Graduates / 13%
Business/Commerce, General 54 Graduates
Accounting 11 Graduates
Health Professions and Related Programs 63 Total Graduates / 13%
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 39 Graduates
Public Health, Other 24 Graduates
All Psychology Majors 37 Total Graduates / 8%
Psychology, General 37 Graduates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities 34 Total Graduates / 7%
General Studies 34 Graduates
All Other Diplomas 41%

Outcome & Salary


HSU students are looking to gain successful careers, so they are interested to know how well their degrees will pay off. While it's impossible to say with any certainty, researchers do investigate the salaries of previous students to help contemporary scholars arrive at an estimated view for the future. Unfortunately, these statistics rely on reported data from alumni, which is in short supply at the moment. However, business students report a median salary of around $36,000 and liberal arts students begin their careers earning $27,000. Since HSU does offer a strong academic value, students are sure to build on their initial earnings and build very happy and successful lives.

Graduates Salary
College Grads Early Career Salary $44,200
College Grads Average Salary $55,699
College Grads Mid Career Salary $80,400
Return on Investment (ROI)
10 Year Salary Earnings Potential $556,990
20 Year Salary Earnings Potential $1,360,990
Cost of Education (Net Price) 4 Year $47,640
10 Year Projected ROI $509,350
20 Year Projected ROI $1,313,350
No College Education Salary Comparison
National Average Salary $38,792
10 Year Projected Income $387,920
20 Year Projected Income $775,840

Photos & Videos


Search All Programs