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Lipscomb Bethel University Freed-Hardeman University OC OBU Hendrix College Samford University John Brown University Abilene Christian University Arkansas Union University Lubbock Christian University| Harding University | Northwestern College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Harding University | Northwestern College | ||
| Location | Searcy, AR | Saint Paul, MN | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 4,805 | 3,253 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #477 | #554 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Churches of Christ | Other Protestant | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | harding.edu | nwc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Harding University | Northwestern College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $22,500 | $34,490 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $22,500 | $34,490 | ||
| Room & Board | $7,984 | $10,644 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,558 | $25,704 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $14,682 | $20,487 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 100% |
Admission |
Harding University | Northwestern College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,254 | 1,349 | ||
| Admitted | 1,017 | 1,248 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 45.1% | 92.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 78.9% | 31.9% | ||
| 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 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1040/1300 | 1015/1311 | ||
| 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 | Northwestern College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Harding University | Northwestern College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 64% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,800 | $41,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 78% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $22,070 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $228 |
Diversity |
Harding University | Northwestern College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 39% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 61% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 84% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Harding University | Northwestern College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 28% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 68% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Harding University | Northwestern 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 Northwestern College based on total student enrollment (4,805 students vs. 3,253 students)
Harding University vs. Northwestern College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Harding University or Northwestern College?
- Northwestern College is 53.3% more expensive to attend than Harding University for in-state tuition ($34,490.00 vs. $22,500.00)
- Out of state tuition is 53.3% higher at Northwestern College than Harding University ($34,490.00 vs. $22,500.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harding University than Northwestern College ($19,558 vs. $25,704)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 33.3% lower than costs at Northwestern College ($7,984 vs. $10,644)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Northwestern College than Harding University (100% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern College students is 39.5% larger than aid received Harding University ($20,487 vs. $14,682)
Harding University vs. Northwestern College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Harding University or Northwestern College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Northwestern College or Harding University .
- The average SAT score at Harding University (1135) is 33 points higher than at Northwestern College (1102)
- Incoming Harding University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Northwestern College (24)
- Accepted freshman Harding University students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Northwestern College (3.58)
- Northwestern College has a higher acceptance rate (92.5%) than Harding University (45.1%)
Harding University vs. Northwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Harding University or Northwestern 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 Northwestern College and Harding University.
- The graduation rate at Northwestern College is higher than Harding University (64% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Harding University earn on average $3,700 more per year than Northwestern College graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $41,100)
- Northwestern College students graduate with a $4,930 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($22,070 vs. $27,000)
- Northwestern College graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($228 vs. $279)
- More Northwestern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harding University students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 71%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/