Harding University vs. Austin College

Should I go to Harding University or Austin College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Harding University or Austin College 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Trinity SU Baylor UT Dallas Lipscomb University of Dallas Freed-Hardeman University Hendrix College TCU UT Austin OC OBU
Harding University vs. Austin College comparison
Harding University Austin College College 3 College 4
Harding University Austin College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Harding University Austin College
Location Searcy, AR Sherman, TX
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 4,805 1,182
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #477 #188
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harding.edu austincollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harding University Austin College
Tuition (In State) $22,500 $44,740
Tuition (Out of State) $22,500 $44,740
Room & Board $7,984 $12,958
Avg Net Price $19,558 $24,739
Avg Grant Aid $14,682 $33,033
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 100%

Admission

Harding University Austin College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,254 5,192
Admitted 1,017 2,823
Acceptance Rate 45.1% 54.4%
Enrolled % 78.9% 11.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.71 3.63
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 20/28 24/30
SAT Range 1040/1300 1160/1370
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 31, 2025

Academics

Harding University Austin College
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Social Sciences (21%)
  • Psychology (14%)
  • Business (14%)
  • History (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)

Outcomes

Harding University Austin College
Graduation Rate 63% 75%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $54,600
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 72%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $268

Diversity

Harding University Austin College
% Men 42% 49%
% Women 58% 51%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 83% 53%
% Black 4% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 19%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 6% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

Harding University Austin College
% In-State 28% 91%
% Out-of-State 68% 8%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Harding University is larger than than Austin College based on total student enrollment (4,805 students vs. 1,182 students)

Harding University vs. Austin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harding University or Austin College?

  • Austin College is 98.8% more expensive to attend than Harding University for in-state tuition ($44,740.00 vs. $22,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 98.8% higher at Austin College than Harding University ($44,740.00 vs. $22,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harding University than Austin College ($19,558 vs. $24,739)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 62.3% lower than costs at Austin College ($7,984 vs. $12,958)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Austin College than Harding University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Austin College students is 125% larger than aid received Harding University ($33,033 vs. $14,682)

Harding University vs. Austin College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Austin College (1165) is 30 points higher than at Harding University (1135)
  • Incoming Harding University students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at Austin College (25)
  • Accepted freshman Harding University students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Austin College (3.63)
  • Austin College has a higher acceptance rate (54.4%) than Harding University (45.1%)

Harding University vs. Austin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harding University or Austin College? 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 Austin College and Harding University.

  • The graduation rate at Austin College is higher than Harding University (75% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Austin College earn on average $9,800 more per year than Harding University graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $44,800)
  • Austin College students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Austin College graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More Austin College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harding University students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 71%)

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