Harding University vs. Southwestern College

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

Harding University Southwestern College
Location Searcy, AR Winfield, KS
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 4,608 1,139
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1021 #517
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harding.edu sckans.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harding University Southwestern College
Tuition (In State) $24,240 $38,330
Tuition (Out of State) $24,240 $38,330
Room & Board $9,940 $11,356
Avg Net Price $21,069 $27,337
Avg Grant Aid $15,325 $26,433
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

Harding University Southwestern College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,202 1,333
Admitted 2,202 866
Acceptance Rate 100% 65%
Enrolled % 39.2% 23.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.71 3.33
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 17/22
SAT Range 1050/1280 900/1220
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 22, 2026

Academics

Harding University Southwestern College
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (4%)

Outcomes

Harding University Southwestern College
Graduation Rate 63% 57%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $53,100
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,750
Median Loan Payment $279 $266

Diversity

Harding University Southwestern College
% Men 9% 6%
% Women 15% 3%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 83% 54%
% Black 4% 12%
% Hispanic 4% 8%
% Native American 1% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 6% 5%
% Unknown Race 0% 15%

Students

Harding University Southwestern College
% In-State 28% 28%
% Out-of-State 68% 70%

Campus

Harding University Southwestern College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Harding University is larger than than Southwestern College based on total student enrollment (4,608 students vs. 1,139 students)

Harding University vs. Southwestern College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harding University or Southwestern College?

  • Southwestern College is 58.1% more expensive to attend than Harding University for in-state tuition ($38,330.00 vs. $24,240.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 58.1% higher at Southwestern College than Harding University ($38,330.00 vs. $24,240.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harding University than Southwestern College ($21,069 vs. $27,337)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 14.2% lower than costs at Southwestern College ($9,940 vs. $11,356)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southwestern College than Harding University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern College students is 72.5% larger than aid received Harding University ($26,433 vs. $15,325)

Harding University vs. Southwestern College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Harding University (1135) is 136 points higher than at Southwestern College (999)
  • Incoming Harding University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Southwestern College (22)
  • Accepted freshman Harding University students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Southwestern College (3.33)
  • Harding University has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Southwestern College (65%)

Harding University vs. Southwestern College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harding University or Southwestern 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 Southwestern College and Harding University.

  • The graduation rate at Harding University is higher than Southwestern College (63% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from Southwestern College earn on average $8,300 more per year than Harding University graduates after ten years. ($53,100 vs. $44,800)
  • Southwestern College students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($25,750 vs. $27,000)
  • Southwestern College graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
  • More Harding University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwestern College students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 57%)

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