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Alabama UL Lafayette Florida State Tulane LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech UH Texas A&M Auburn Michigan State OU Ole Miss UNO| Harding University | Louisiana State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Harding University | LSU | ||
| Location | Searcy, AR | Baton Rouge, LA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 4,608 | 39,418 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1021 | #287 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Churches of Christ | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | harding.edu | lsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Harding University | LSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $24,240 | $8,038 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $24,240 | $8,038 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,940 | $14,296 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,069 | $21,808 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,325 | $13,509 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 88% |
Admission |
Harding University | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,202 | 42,558 | ||
| Admitted | 2,202 | 31,491 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 100% | 74% | ||
| Enrolled % | 39.2% | 23.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.71 | 3.77 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 21/28 | 24/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1050/1280 | 1150/1330 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Harding University | LSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Harding University | LSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,800 | $56,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 67% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $20,900 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $216 |
Diversity |
Harding University | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 7% | ||
| % Women | 15% | 11% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 6% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
Harding University | LSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 28% | 61% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 68% | 37% | ||
Campus |
Harding University | LSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Louisiana State University is larger than than Harding University based on total student enrollment (39,418 students vs. 4,608 students)
Harding University vs. LSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Harding University or LSU?
- Harding University is 201.6% more expensive to attend than LSU for in-state tuition ($24,240.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- Out of state tuition is 201.6% higher at Harding University than Louisiana State University ($24,240.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harding University than LSU ($21,069 vs. $21,808)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 43.8% lower than costs at Louisiana State University ($9,940 vs. $14,296)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Harding University than Louisiana State University (98% vs. 88%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Harding University students is 13.4% larger than aid received Louisiana State University ($15,325 vs. $13,509)
Harding University vs. LSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Harding University or LSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between LSU or Harding University .
- The average SAT score at Louisiana State University (1163) is 28 points higher than at Harding University (1135)
- Incoming LSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Harding University (25)
- Accepted freshman LSU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Harding University (3.71)
- Harding University has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than LSU (74%)
Harding University vs. LSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Harding University or LSU? 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 LSU and Harding University.
- The graduation rate at Harding University is higher than Louisiana State University (63% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Louisiana State University earn on average $12,100 more per year than Harding University graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $44,800)
- Louisiana State University students graduate with a $6,100 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($20,900 vs. $27,000)
- LSU graduates are paying $63 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($216 vs. $279)
- More Harding University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LSU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 67%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/