Harding University vs. Mississippi State

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

Harding University Mississippi State
Location Searcy, AR Mississippi State, MS
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 4,805 22,649
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #477 #523
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harding.edu msstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harding University Mississippi State
Tuition (In State) $22,500 $9,248
Tuition (Out of State) $22,500 $25,294
Room & Board $7,984 $10,964
Avg Net Price $19,558 $15,364
Avg Grant Aid $14,682 $14,252
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 98%

Admission

Harding University Mississippi State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,254 18,830
Admitted 1,017 14,158
Acceptance Rate 45.1% 75.2%
Enrolled % 78.9% 23.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.71 3.58
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/28 21/29
SAT Range 1040/1300 1070/1280
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Harding University Mississippi State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Harding University Mississippi State
Graduation Rate 63% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $279 $240

Diversity

Harding University Mississippi State
% Men 42% 49%
% Women 58% 51%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 72%
% Black 4% 20%
% Hispanic 4% 2%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 6% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Harding University Mississippi State
% In-State 28% 59%
% Out-of-State 68% 40%

Campus

Harding University Mississippi State
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

  • Mississippi State University is larger than than Harding University based on total student enrollment (22,649 students vs. 4,805 students)

Harding University vs. Mississippi State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harding University or Mississippi State?

  • Harding University is 143.3% more expensive to attend than Mississippi State for in-state tuition ($22,500.00 vs. $9,248.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.4% higher at Mississippi State than Harding University ($25,294.00 vs. $22,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mississippi State University than Harding University ($15,364 vs. $19,558)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 37.3% lower than costs at Mississippi State University ($7,984 vs. $10,964)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mississippi State University than Harding University (98% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harding University students is 3% larger than aid received Mississippi State University ($14,682 vs. $14,252)

Harding University vs. Mississippi State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Mississippi State University (1140) is 5 points higher than at Harding University (1135)
  • Incoming Harding University students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at Mississippi State (25)
  • Accepted freshman Harding University students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Mississippi State (3.58)
  • Mississippi State has a higher acceptance rate (75.2%) than Harding University (45.1%)

Harding University vs. Mississippi State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harding University or Mississippi State? 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 Mississippi State and Harding University.

  • The graduation rate at Harding University is higher than Mississippi State University (63% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Mississippi State University earn on average $2,700 more per year than Harding University graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $44,800)
  • Mississippi State University students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($23,250 vs. $27,000)
  • Mississippi State graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($240 vs. $279)
  • More Harding University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mississippi State students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 63%)

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