Harding University vs. Spelman

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

Harding University Spelman
Location Searcy, AR Atlanta, GA
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 4,608 3,633
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1021 #324
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harding.edu spelman.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harding University Spelman
Tuition (In State) $24,240 $26,915
Tuition (Out of State) $24,240 $26,915
Room & Board $9,940 $16,293
Avg Net Price $21,069 $37,403
Avg Grant Aid $15,325 $11,994
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 96%

Admission

Harding University Spelman
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,202 10,610
Admitted 2,202 3,617
Acceptance Rate 100% 34.1%
Enrolled % 39.2% 20.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.71 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 21/28 21/27
SAT Range 1050/1280 1060/1270
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Harding University Spelman
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Psychology (20%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • English and Literature (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

Harding University Spelman
Graduation Rate 63% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $51,300
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

Harding University Spelman
% Men 9% 7%
% Women 15% 73%
Racial Diversity Very Low Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 83% 0%
% Black 4% 96%
% Hispanic 4% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 6% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Harding University Spelman
% In-State 28% 21%
% Out-of-State 68% 78%

Campus

Harding University Spelman
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 Spelman based on total student enrollment (4,608 students vs. 3,633 students)

Harding University vs. Spelman Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harding University or Spelman?

  • Spelman College is 11% more expensive to attend than Harding University for in-state tuition ($26,915.00 vs. $24,240.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11% higher at Spelman than Harding University ($26,915.00 vs. $24,240.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harding University than Spelman ($21,069 vs. $37,403)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 63.9% lower than costs at Spelman College ($9,940 vs. $16,293)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Harding University than Spelman College (98% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harding University students is 27.8% larger than aid received Spelman College ($15,325 vs. $11,994)

Harding University vs. Spelman Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Harding University (1135) is 120 points higher than at Spelman (1015)
  • Incoming Harding University students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Spelman (22)
  • Accepted freshman Spelman students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Harding University (3.71)
  • Harding University has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Spelman (34.1%)

Harding University vs. Spelman Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harding University or Spelman? 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 Spelman and Harding University.

  • The graduation rate at Spelman is higher than Harding University (77% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Spelman College earn on average $6,500 more per year than Harding University graduates after ten years. ($51,300 vs. $44,800)
  • Spelman College and Harding University graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Spelman College and Harding University graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
  • More Harding University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spelman students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 47%)

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