Harding University vs. OU

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

Harding University OU
Location Searcy, AR Norman, OK
Setting Distant Town Small Suburban
Enrollment 4,805 28,308
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #477 #189
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harding.edu ou.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harding University OU
Tuition (In State) $22,500 $4,920
Tuition (Out of State) $22,500 $21,488
Room & Board $7,984 $15,780
Avg Net Price $19,558 $22,601
Avg Grant Aid $14,682 $10,561
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 98%

Admission

Harding University OU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,254 21,548
Admitted 1,017 15,712
Acceptance Rate 45.1% 72.9%
Enrolled % 78.9% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.71 3.66
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 20/28 23/29
SAT Range 1040/1300 1130/1330
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Harding University OU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (20%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Harding University OU
Graduation Rate 63% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $59,300
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $206

Diversity

Harding University OU
% Men 42% 47%
% Women 58% 53%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 83% 62%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 9%
% Native American 1% 4%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 6% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Harding University OU
% In-State 28% 53%
% Out-of-State 68% 45%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is larger than than Harding University based on total student enrollment (28,308 students vs. 4,805 students)

Harding University vs. OU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harding University or OU?

  • Harding University is 357.3% more expensive to attend than OU for in-state tuition ($22,500.00 vs. $4,920.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.7% higher at Harding University than University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($22,500.00 vs. $21,488.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harding University than OU ($19,558 vs. $22,601)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 97.6% lower than costs at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($7,984 vs. $15,780)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than Harding University (98% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harding University students is 39% larger than aid received University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($14,682 vs. $10,561)

Harding University vs. OU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (1204) is 69 points higher than at Harding University (1135)
  • Incoming OU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Harding University (25)
  • Accepted freshman Harding University students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at OU (3.66)
  • OU has a higher acceptance rate (72.9%) than Harding University (45.1%)

Harding University vs. OU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at OU is higher than Harding University (67% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from University of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn on average $14,500 more per year than Harding University graduates after ten years. ($59,300 vs. $44,800)
  • University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students graduate with a $7,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($20,000 vs. $27,000)
  • OU graduates are paying $73 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($206 vs. $279)
  • More Harding University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 68%)

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