Harding University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Searcy, Arkansas. It enrolls 3,382 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
67/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes77
Value37
Affordability34
Selectivity57
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 70.5%, Harding University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
70.5%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1050 – 1290
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
20 – 29
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyRequiredSAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Harding University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
38.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Harding University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $22,130 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$22,130
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
44%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$26,262
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,060
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,548
Books & Supplies
$598
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,066
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,132
Total Cost of Attendance
$39,534
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$15,418
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,430
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,832
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,017
Over $110,000
$26,284
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,50010%percentile
$8,02025%percentile
$26,500Medianpercentile
$29,50075%percentile
$37,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $25,000
↓ $1,500
No Pell $19,375
↓ $7,125
Dependent students $21,931
↓ $4,569
Independent students $20,500
↓ $6,000
Female students $22,532
↓ $3,968
Male students $20,500
↓ $6,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,644, less than completers ($26,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
63% of full-time students who enrolled at Harding University graduate within six years, and 87% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
63%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
87%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Harding University earn a median of $52,876 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$52,876
Earning > $25K
81%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$39,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$55,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,200, about 28% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 85% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Harding University is home to 3,382 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
3,382
Part-Time
5%
First-Generation
21%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 79.8%2,700
International 5.0%168
Hispanic 4.8%163
Other 4.6%156
Black 4.6%154
Asian 1.2%41
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Harding University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantSearcy, Arkansas
Housing
Strongly residential2,687 beds for 3,382 students
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Harding University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
79 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Harding University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$407M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$70,049
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
267 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
92
34%
$79,269
Associate Professors
69
26%
$69,585
Assistant Professors
80
30%
$64,949
Instructors
23
9%
$56,260
Lecturers
3
1%
$39,720
Pros & Cons of Harding University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Harding University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Frequently Asked Questions about Harding University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Harding University.
Is Harding University hard to get into?
Admissions at Harding University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 70.5%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Harding University?
Harding University has an acceptance rate of 70.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Harding University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Harding University scored between 1050 and 1290 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Harding University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Harding University scored between 20 and 29 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Harding University cost?
The average net price after aid at Harding University is $22,130 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Harding University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $52,876 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,130 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Harding University known for?
Harding University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Counseling Education, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Harding University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Harding University are $52,876, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Harding University accredited?
Yes. Harding University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Harding University?
Harding University enrolls 3,382 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Harding University?
Harding University graduates 63% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Harding University a public or private college?
Harding University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Harding University located?
Harding University is located in Searcy, Arkansas.
What programs does Harding University offer?
Harding University offers 79 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Counseling Education, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Harding University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Harding University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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