Henderson State University vs. Friends University

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

Henderson State University Friends University
Location Arkadelphia, AR Wichita, KS
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 2,136 1,927
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #988 #900
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hsu.edu friends.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Henderson State University Friends University
Tuition (In State) $6,163 $32,108
Tuition (Out of State) $8,160 $32,108
Room & Board $10,680 $10,828
Avg Net Price $16,929 $22,579
Avg Grant Aid $9,017 $21,910
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Henderson State University Friends University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,814 1,134
Admitted 1,486 631
Acceptance Rate 81.9% 55.6%
Enrolled % 20.6% 39.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.4
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/21 17/22
SAT Range 903/1073 915/1090
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2026

Academics

Henderson State University Friends University
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (62%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (6%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (4%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)

Outcomes

Henderson State University Friends University
Graduation Rate 31% 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $46,500
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $24,512
Median Loan Payment $201 $253

Diversity

Henderson State University Friends University
% Men 8% 8%
% Women 23% 16%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 66% 68%
% Black 24% 11%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 8%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 5%

Students

Henderson State University Friends University
% In-State 77% 52%
% Out-of-State 21% 45%

Campus

Henderson State University Friends University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Henderson State University is larger than than Friends University based on total student enrollment (2,136 students vs. 1,927 students)

Henderson State University vs. Friends University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Henderson State University or Friends University?

  • Friends University is 421% more expensive to attend than Henderson State University for in-state tuition ($32,108.00 vs. $6,163.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 293.5% higher at Friends University than Henderson State University ($32,108.00 vs. $8,160.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Henderson State University than Friends University ($16,929 vs. $22,579)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Henderson State University are 1.4% lower than costs at Friends University ($10,680 vs. $10,828)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Friends University than Henderson State University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Friends University students is 143% larger than aid received Henderson State University ($21,910 vs. $9,017)

Henderson State University vs. Friends University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Friends University (1014) is 26 points higher than at Henderson State University (988)
  • Incoming Friends University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Henderson State University (21)
  • Accepted freshman Friends University students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Henderson State University (3.23)
  • Henderson State University has a higher acceptance rate (81.9%) than Friends University (55.6%)

Henderson State University vs. Friends University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Henderson State University or Friends University? 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 Friends University and Henderson State University.

  • The graduation rate at Henderson State University is higher than Friends University (31% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Friends University earn on average $8,100 more per year than Henderson State University graduates after ten years. ($46,500 vs. $38,400)
  • Henderson State University students graduate with a $5,012 lower median federal student loan debt than Friends University graduates. ($19,500 vs. $24,512)
  • Henderson State University graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Friends University graduates. ($201 vs. $253)
  • More Friends University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Henderson State University students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 48%)

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