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 4,608 29,145
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1021 #223
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harding.edu ou.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harding University OU
Tuition (In State) $24,240 $5,070
Tuition (Out of State) $24,240 $22,140
Room & Board $9,940 $13,310
Avg Net Price $21,069 $19,900
Avg Grant Aid $15,325 $10,830
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 99%

Admission

Harding University OU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,202 22,337
Admitted 2,202 17,097
Acceptance Rate 100% 76.5%
Enrolled % 39.2% 30.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.71 3.66
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 23/29
SAT Range 1050/1280 1140/1330
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 OU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 17:1
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 9% 10%
% Women 15% 14%
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% 50%
% Out-of-State 68% 48%

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 (29,145 students vs. 4,608 students)

Harding University vs. OU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harding University or OU?

  • Harding University is 378.1% more expensive to attend than OU for in-state tuition ($24,240.00 vs. $5,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.5% higher at Harding University than University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($24,240.00 vs. $22,140.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than Harding University ($19,900 vs. $21,069)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 33.9% lower than costs at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($9,940 vs. $13,310)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than Harding University (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harding University students is 41.5% larger than aid received University of Oklahoma Norman Campus ($15,325 vs. $10,830)

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)
  • Harding University has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than OU (76.5%)

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/