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Lipscomb DBU Henderson State University Freed-Hardeman University OC Hendrix College College of the Ozarks Samford University Arkansas John Brown University Abilene Christian University University of Central Arkansas| Harding University | Ouachita Baptist University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Harding University | OBU | ||
| Location | Searcy, AR | Arkadelphia, AR | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 4,805 | 1,784 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #477 | #474 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Churches of Christ | Southern Baptist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | harding.edu | obu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Harding University | OBU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $22,500 | $30,500 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $22,500 | $30,500 | ||
| Room & Board | $7,984 | $8,800 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,558 | $21,677 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $14,682 | $22,181 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 100% |
Admission |
Harding University | OBU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,254 | 2,063 | ||
| Admitted | 1,017 | 1,492 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 45.1% | 72.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 78.9% | 29.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.71 | 3.72 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 20/28 | 21/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1040/1300 | 1020/1200 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
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Academics |
Harding University | OBU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Harding University | OBU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,800 | $43,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $22,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $232 |
Diversity |
Harding University | OBU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 85% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 0% | ||
| % International | 6% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
Harding University | OBU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 28% | 63% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 68% | 35% | ||
Campus |
Harding University | OBU | ||
| 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 OBU based on total student enrollment (4,805 students vs. 1,784 students)
Harding University vs. OBU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Harding University or OBU?
- Ouachita Baptist University is 35.6% more expensive to attend than Harding University for in-state tuition ($30,500.00 vs. $22,500.00)
- Out of state tuition is 35.6% higher at OBU than Harding University ($30,500.00 vs. $22,500.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harding University than OBU ($19,558 vs. $21,677)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 10.2% lower than costs at Ouachita Baptist University ($7,984 vs. $8,800)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Ouachita Baptist University than Harding University (100% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Ouachita Baptist University students is 51.1% larger than aid received Harding University ($22,181 vs. $14,682)
Harding University vs. OBU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Harding University or OBU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between OBU or Harding University .
- The average SAT score at Harding University (1135) is 15 points higher than at OBU (1120)
- Incoming Harding University students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at OBU (25)
- Accepted freshman OBU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Harding University (3.71)
- OBU has a higher acceptance rate (72.3%) than Harding University (45.1%)
Harding University vs. OBU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Harding University or OBU? 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 OBU and Harding University.
- The graduation rate at Harding University is the same as at Ouachita Baptist University (63% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Harding University earn on average $1,400 more per year than OBU graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $43,400)
- Ouachita Baptist University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($22,500 vs. $27,000)
- OBU graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($232 vs. $279)
- More OBU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harding University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 71%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/