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Austin Peay State University Memphis Belmont Tennessee Tech Tennessee ETSU UTC Lipscomb Tennessee State University Freed-Hardeman University Vanderbilt Murray State University| Harding University | Middle Tennessee State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Harding University | Middle Tennessee State University | ||
| Location | Searcy, AR | Murfreesboro, TN | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,805 | 20,086 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #477 | #656 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Churches of Christ | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | harding.edu | mtsu.edu | ||
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Costs |
Harding University | Middle Tennessee State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $22,500 | $7,344 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $22,500 | $26,376 | ||
| Room & Board | $7,984 | $9,576 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,558 | $13,062 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $14,682 | $9,421 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 100% |
Admission |
Harding University | Middle Tennessee State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,254 | 12,868 | ||
| Admitted | 1,017 | 9,335 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 45.1% | 72.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 78.9% | 30% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.71 | 3.64 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 20/28 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1040/1300 | 1020/1230 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Harding University | Middle Tennessee State University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Harding University | Middle Tennessee State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 45% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,800 | $42,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 50% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $21,758 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $224 |
Diversity |
Harding University | Middle Tennessee State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 45% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 55% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 64% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 22% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
Harding University | Middle Tennessee State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 28% | 89% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 68% | 11% | ||
Campus |
Harding University | Middle Tennessee State University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Middle Tennessee State University is larger than than Harding University based on total student enrollment (20,086 students vs. 4,805 students)
Harding University vs. Middle Tennessee State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Harding University or Middle Tennessee State University?
- Harding University is 206.4% more expensive to attend than Middle Tennessee State University for in-state tuition ($22,500.00 vs. $7,344.00)
- Out of state tuition is 17.2% higher at Middle Tennessee State University than Harding University ($26,376.00 vs. $22,500.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Middle Tennessee State University than Harding University ($13,062 vs. $19,558)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 19.9% lower than costs at Middle Tennessee State University ($7,984 vs. $9,576)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Middle Tennessee State University than Harding University (100% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Harding University students is 55.8% larger than aid received Middle Tennessee State University ($14,682 vs. $9,421)
Harding University vs. Middle Tennessee State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Harding University or Middle Tennessee State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Middle Tennessee State University or Harding University .
- The average SAT score at Harding University (1135) is 104 points higher than at Middle Tennessee State University (1031)
- Incoming Harding University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Middle Tennessee State University (22)
- Accepted freshman Harding University students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Middle Tennessee State University (3.64)
- Middle Tennessee State University has a higher acceptance rate (72.5%) than Harding University (45.1%)
Harding University vs. Middle Tennessee State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Harding University or Middle Tennessee State 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 Middle Tennessee State University and Harding University.
- The graduation rate at Harding University is higher than Middle Tennessee State University (63% vs. 45%)
- Graduates from Harding University earn on average $2,500 more per year than Middle Tennessee State University graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $42,300)
- Middle Tennessee State University students graduate with a $5,242 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($21,758 vs. $27,000)
- Middle Tennessee State University graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($224 vs. $279)
- More Harding University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Middle Tennessee State University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 50%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/