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Lipscomb Freed-Hardeman University OC A&M Commerce ATU OBU Hendrix College UNT Samford University University of Central Arkansas John Brown University Abilene Christian University| Harding University | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Harding University | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | ||
| Location | Searcy, AR | Magnolia, AR | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 4,805 | 5,094 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #477 | #868 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Churches of Christ | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | harding.edu | saumag.edu | ||
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Costs |
Harding University | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $22,500 | $7,020 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $22,500 | $12,450 | ||
| Room & Board | $7,984 | $7,809 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,558 | $14,056 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $14,682 | $9,316 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 99% |
Admission |
Harding University | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,254 | 2,916 | ||
| Admitted | 1,017 | 1,855 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 45.1% | 63.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 78.9% | 38.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.71 | 3.46 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 20/28 | 17/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1040/1300 | 905/1190 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 27, 2025 |
Academics |
Harding University | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Harding University | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 34% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,800 | $37,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 44% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $17,020 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $175 |
Diversity |
Harding University | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 45% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 55% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 63% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 28% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 0% | ||
| % International | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 0% |
Students |
Harding University | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 28% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 68% | 29% | ||
Campus |
Harding University | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | ||
| 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
- Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is larger than than Harding University based on total student enrollment (5,094 students vs. 4,805 students)
Harding University vs. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Harding University or Southern Arkansas University Main Campus?
- Harding University is 220.5% more expensive to attend than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus for in-state tuition ($22,500.00 vs. $7,020.00)
- Out of state tuition is 80.7% higher at Harding University than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($22,500.00 vs. $12,450.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than Harding University ($14,056 vs. $19,558)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus are 2.2% lower than costs at Harding University ($7,809 vs. $7,984)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus than Harding University (99% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Harding University students is 57.6% larger than aid received Southern Arkansas University Main Campus ($14,682 vs. $9,316)
Harding University vs. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Harding University or Southern Arkansas University Main Campus? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Southern Arkansas University Main Campus or Harding University .
- The average SAT score at Harding University (1135) is 147 points higher than at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (988)
- Incoming Harding University students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (21)
- Accepted freshman Harding University students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (3.46)
- Southern Arkansas University Main Campus has a higher acceptance rate (63.6%) than Harding University (45.1%)
Harding University vs. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Harding University or Southern Arkansas University Main Campus? 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 Southern Arkansas University Main Campus and Harding University.
- The graduation rate at Harding University is higher than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus (63% vs. 34%)
- Graduates from Harding University earn on average $6,900 more per year than Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $37,900)
- Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students graduate with a $9,980 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($17,020 vs. $27,000)
- Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates are paying $104 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($175 vs. $279)
- More Harding University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Arkansas University Main Campus students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 44%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/