Harding University vs. University of St Thomas

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

Harding University University of St Thomas
Location Searcy, AR Houston, TX
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 4,805 3,588
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #477 #479
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harding.edu stthom.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harding University University of St Thomas
Tuition (In State) $22,500 $31,724
Tuition (Out of State) $22,500 $31,724
Room & Board $7,984 $9,760
Avg Net Price $19,558 $19,207
Avg Grant Aid $14,682 $23,181
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 91%

Admission

Harding University University of St Thomas
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,254 1,123
Admitted 1,017 1,086
Acceptance Rate 45.1% 96.7%
Enrolled % 78.9% 47.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.71 3.53
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/28 24/29
SAT Range 1040/1300 1010/1300
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Harding University University of St Thomas
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)

Outcomes

Harding University University of St Thomas
Graduation Rate 63% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $57,200
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $227

Diversity

Harding University University of St Thomas
% Men 42% 42%
% Women 58% 58%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 83% 28%
% Black 4% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 40%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 6% 10%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Harding University University of St Thomas
% In-State 28% 95%
% Out-of-State 68% 3%

Campus

Harding University University of St Thomas
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 University of St Thomas based on total student enrollment (4,805 students vs. 3,588 students)

Harding University vs. University of St Thomas Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harding University or University of St Thomas?

  • University of St Thomas is 41% more expensive to attend than Harding University for in-state tuition ($31,724.00 vs. $22,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 41% higher at University of St Thomas than Harding University ($31,724.00 vs. $22,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of St Thomas than Harding University ($19,207 vs. $19,558)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 22.2% lower than costs at University of St Thomas ($7,984 vs. $9,760)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Harding University than University of St Thomas (97% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of St Thomas students is 57.9% larger than aid received Harding University ($23,181 vs. $14,682)

Harding University vs. University of St Thomas Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Harding University (1135) is 32 points higher than at University of St Thomas (1103)
  • Incoming Harding University students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at University of St Thomas (25)
  • Accepted freshman Harding University students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at University of St Thomas (3.53)
  • University of St Thomas has a higher acceptance rate (96.7%) than Harding University (45.1%)

Harding University vs. University of St Thomas Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harding University or University of St Thomas? 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 University of St Thomas and Harding University.

  • The graduation rate at Harding University is higher than University of St Thomas (63% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from University of St Thomas earn on average $12,400 more per year than Harding University graduates after ten years. ($57,200 vs. $44,800)
  • University of St Thomas students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($22,000 vs. $27,000)
  • University of St Thomas graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($227 vs. $279)
  • More Harding University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of St Thomas students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 59%)

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