Henderson State University vs. Pitt State

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

 Henderson State University Pitt State
Location Arkadelphia, AR Pittsburg, KS
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 2,136 5,722
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #988
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hsu.edu pittstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Henderson State University Pitt State
Tuition (In State) $6,163 $6,012
Tuition (Out of State) $8,160 $17,696
Room & Board $10,680 $9,398
Avg Net Price $16,929 $19,357
Avg Grant Aid $9,017 $4,569
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 75%

Admission

 Henderson State University Pitt State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,814 2,856
Admitted 1,486 2,518
Acceptance Rate 81.9% 88.2%
Enrolled % 20.6% 34.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.4
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/21
SAT Range 903/1073
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 Pitt State
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Engineering Technology (14%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

 Henderson State University Pitt State
Graduation Rate 31% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $43,600
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $201 $206

Diversity

 Henderson State University Pitt State
% Men 8% 10%
% Women 23% 13%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 66% 79%
% Black 24% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 6%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

 Henderson State University Pitt State
% In-State 77% 65%
% Out-of-State 21% 35%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Pittsburg State University is larger than than Henderson State University based on total student enrollment (5,722 students vs. 2,136 students)

Henderson State University vs. Pitt State Cost Comparison

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

  • Henderson State University is 2.5% more expensive to attend than Pitt State for in-state tuition ($6,163.00 vs. $6,012.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 116.9% higher at Pitt State than Henderson State University ($17,696.00 vs. $8,160.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Henderson State University than Pitt State ($16,929 vs. $19,357)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pittsburg State University are 13.6% lower than costs at Henderson State University ($9,398 vs. $10,680)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Henderson State University than Pittsburg State University (99% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Henderson State University students is 97.4% larger than aid received Pittsburg State University ($9,017 vs. $4,569)

Henderson State University vs. Pitt State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Pitt State students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Henderson State University (3.23)
  • Pitt State has a higher acceptance rate (88.2%) than Henderson State University (81.9%)

Henderson State University vs. Pitt State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Pitt State is higher than Henderson State University (49% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Pittsburg State University earn on average $5,200 more per year than Henderson State University graduates after ten years. ($43,600 vs. $38,400)
  • Henderson State University students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Pitt State graduates. ($19,500 vs. $20,000)
  • Henderson State University graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Pitt State graduates. ($201 vs. $206)
  • More Pitt State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Henderson State University students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 48%)

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