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Henderson State University

Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71999-0001

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Tight-knitCollege townGreek life

Known for health sciences — close-knit campus

Henderson State University is a public institution in Arkadelphia with particular strength in health sciences and business.

A small campus of 1.5K undergraduates with a 17:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

38% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $43,459 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $16,929.

Established
1890
Type
Public university
Division
Division II

Plan Your Visit

82%Acceptance
SAT Avg
1,491Students
17:1Student:Faculty
38%Grad Rate
$43,459Earnings 10yr
$16,929Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate81.9%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$7,885
Tuition (out-of-state)$9,882
Room & Board$10,680
Books & Supplies$2,676
Total Cost of Attendance$25,946
Average Net Price$16,929
Median Debt at Graduation$19,500
Monthly Payment (10yr)$207

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$15,236
$30–48K$15,087
$48–75K$19,426
$75–110K$17,869
$110K+$19,082

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

55.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

0.9%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$12,000

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

9

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

3

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (85)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

59%

Below Average

Student Body

Undergrads
1,491
Gender Split
53% / 47%
Women / Men
First Generation
38%
Pell Grant Recipients
48%

Race & Ethnicity

White 59%
Black 27%
Hispanic 7%
Asian 1%
Two+ 2%
Int'l 3%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate38.0%
Freshman Retention59.4%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$35,194
10 Years$43,459

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • It is also the only public university in the state to be named for an individual; it was renamed for Charles Christopher Henderson, a trustee and prominent Arkadelphia businessman, on May 23, 1904.
  • On September 3, 1890, Arkadelphia Methodist College opened its doors to 110 students and 10 faculty members.
  • The college also served as an academy, providing high school level education, until 1925.
  • In 1913, the university football team's name began to shift from "Reds" and/or "Red Jackets" to "Reddies.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

86Low

Estimated from AR state average

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 5"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Dallaspop. 1.3M
235 mi(407 min)
Houstonpop. 2.3M
331 mi(574 min)
New Orleanspop. 380K
337 mi(584 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MEM Memphis186 mi
DFW Dallas-Fort Worth244 mi
OKC Oklahoma City272 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1317 mi · ~38h 3m drive
New York, NY1137 mi · ~32h 51m drive
Hartford, CT1226 mi · ~35h 25m drive
Providence, RI1289 mi · ~37h 14m drive
Albany, NY1196 mi · ~34h 33m drive
Syracuse, NY1099 mi · ~31h 45m drive
Rochester, NY1039 mi · ~30h 1m drive
Buffalo, NY974 mi · ~28h 8m drive
Philadelphia, PA1063 mi · ~30h 43m drive
Pittsburgh, PA839 mi · ~24h 14m drive
Harrisburg, PA984 mi · ~28h 26m drive
Newark, NJ1129 mi · ~32h 37m drive
Washington, DC947 mi · ~27h 21m drive
Baltimore, MD977 mi · ~28h 13m drive
Atlanta, GA498 mi · ~14h 23m drive
Charlotte, NC698 mi · ~20h 10m drive
Raleigh, NC824 mi · ~23h 48m drive
Miami, FL962 mi · ~27h 47m drive
Orlando, FL789 mi · ~22h 48m drive
Tampa, FL758 mi · ~21h 54m drive
Nashville, TN381 mi · ~11h drive
New Orleans, LA337 mi · ~9h 44m drive
Richmond, VA905 mi · ~26h 9m drive
Chicago, IL611 mi · ~17h 39m drive
Detroit, MI784 mi · ~22h 39m drive
Minneapolis, MN750 mi · ~21h 40m drive
St. Louis, MO349 mi · ~10h 5m drive
Kansas City, MO354 mi · ~10h 14m drive
Indianapolis, IN545 mi · ~15h 45m drive
Columbus, OH685 mi · ~19h 47m drive
Cleveland, OH801 mi · ~23h 8m drive
Milwaukee, WI675 mi · ~19h 30m drive
Dallas, TX235 mi · ~6h 47m drive
Houston, TX331 mi · ~9h 34m drive
Austin, TX382 mi · ~11h 2m drive
San Antonio, TX455 mi · ~13h 9m drive
Los Angeles, CA1437 mi · ~41h 31m drive
San Francisco, CA1654 mi · ~47h 47m drive
San Diego, CA1390 mi · ~40h 9m drive
Seattle, WA1775 mi · ~51h 17m drive
Portland, OR1744 mi · ~50h 23m drive
Denver, CO764 mi · ~22h 4m drive
Phoenix, AZ1091 mi · ~31h 31m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1127 mi · ~32h 33m drive
Honolulu, HI3997 mi · ~115h 28m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

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Henderson State University Application Checklist

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