Birmingham Southern College vs. Harding University

Should I go to Birmingham Southern College or Harding University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Birmingham Southern College or Harding University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Birmingham Southern College vs. Harding University comparison
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Birmingham Southern College Harding University
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Overview

Birmingham Southern College Harding University
Location Birmingham, AL Searcy, AR
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 975 4,805
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #477
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Churches of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bsc.edu harding.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Birmingham Southern College Harding University
Tuition (In State) $20,000 $22,500
Tuition (Out of State) $20,000 $22,500
Room & Board $14,000 $7,984
Avg Net Price $21,153 $19,558
Avg Grant Aid $14,163 $14,682
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

Birmingham Southern College Harding University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,019 2,254
Admitted 1,726 1,017
Acceptance Rate 57.2% 45.1%
Enrolled % 14.1% 78.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 22/29 20/28
SAT Range 1150/1280 1040/1300
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline

Academics

Birmingham Southern College Harding University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Birmingham Southern College Harding University
Graduation Rate 62% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,000 $44,800
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,850 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $277 $279

Diversity

Birmingham Southern College Harding University
% Men 53% 42%
% Women 47% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 79% 83%
% Black 11% 4%
% Hispanic 2% 4%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 0% 6%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Birmingham Southern College Harding University
% In-State 55% 28%
% Out-of-State 44% 68%

Campus

Birmingham Southern College Harding University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Harding University is larger than than Birmingham Southern College based on total student enrollment (4,805 students vs. 975 students)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Harding University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Birmingham Southern College or Harding University?

  • Harding University is 12.5% more expensive to attend than Birmingham Southern College for in-state tuition ($22,500.00 vs. $20,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.5% higher at Harding University than Birmingham Southern College ($22,500.00 vs. $20,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harding University than Birmingham Southern College ($19,558 vs. $21,153)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 75.4% lower than costs at Birmingham Southern College ($7,984 vs. $14,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Birmingham Southern College than Harding University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harding University students is 3.7% larger than aid received Birmingham Southern College ($14,682 vs. $14,163)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Harding University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Birmingham Southern College or Harding University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Harding University or Birmingham Southern College .

  • The average SAT score at Birmingham Southern College (1167) is 32 points higher than at Harding University (1135)
  • Incoming Birmingham Southern College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Harding University (25)
  • Accepted freshman Birmingham Southern College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Harding University (3.71)
  • Birmingham Southern College has a higher acceptance rate (57.2%) than Harding University (45.1%)

Birmingham Southern College vs. Harding University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Birmingham Southern College or Harding University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Harding University and Birmingham Southern College.

  • The graduation rate at Harding University is higher than Birmingham Southern College (63% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from Birmingham Southern College earn on average $6,200 more per year than Harding University graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $44,800)
  • Birmingham Southern College students graduate with a $150 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($26,850 vs. $27,000)
  • Birmingham Southern College graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Birmingham Southern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harding University students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 71%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/