Harding University vs. Iona College

Should I go to Harding University or Iona College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Harding University or Iona 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
Harding University vs. Iona College comparison
Harding University Iona College College 3 College 4
Harding University Iona College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Harding University Iona College
Location Searcy, AR New Rochelle, NY
Setting Distant Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,608 3,720
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1021 #492
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harding.edu iona.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harding University Iona College
Tuition (In State) $24,240 $43,680
Tuition (Out of State) $24,240 $43,680
Room & Board $9,940 $18,270
Avg Net Price $21,069 $28,557
Avg Grant Aid $15,325 $29,258
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

Harding University Iona College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,202 7,289
Admitted 2,202 6,643
Acceptance Rate 100% 91.1%
Enrolled % 39.2% 12.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.71 3.4
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 20/28
SAT Range 1050/1280 1055/1265
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 15, 2026

Academics

Harding University Iona College
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (37%)
  • Communication (17%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Harding University Iona College
Graduation Rate 63% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $58,400
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,047
Median Loan Payment $279 $269

Diversity

Harding University Iona College
% Men 9% 5%
% Women 15% 11%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 83% 58%
% Black 4% 8%
% Hispanic 4% 22%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 6% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 5%

Students

Harding University Iona College
% In-State 28% 78%
% Out-of-State 68% 20%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Harding University is larger than than Iona College based on total student enrollment (4,608 students vs. 3,720 students)

Harding University vs. Iona College Cost Comparison

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

  • Iona College is 80.2% more expensive to attend than Harding University for in-state tuition ($43,680.00 vs. $24,240.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 80.2% higher at Iona College than Harding University ($43,680.00 vs. $24,240.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harding University than Iona College ($21,069 vs. $28,557)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 83.8% lower than costs at Iona College ($9,940 vs. $18,270)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Iona College than Harding University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iona College students is 90.9% larger than aid received Harding University ($29,258 vs. $15,325)

Harding University vs. Iona College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Harding University (1135) is 130 points higher than at Iona College (1005)
  • Incoming Harding University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Iona College (23)
  • Accepted freshman Harding University students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Iona College (3.4)
  • Harding University has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Iona College (91.1%)

Harding University vs. Iona College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harding University or Iona 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 Iona College and Harding University.

  • The graduation rate at Harding University is higher than Iona College (63% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from Iona College earn on average $13,600 more per year than Harding University graduates after ten years. ($58,400 vs. $44,800)
  • Iona College students graduate with a $953 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($26,047 vs. $27,000)
  • Iona College graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($269 vs. $279)
  • More Iona College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harding University students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 71%)

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