Arkansas vs. Harding University

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

Arkansas Harding University
Location Fayetteville, AR Searcy, AR
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 30,936 4,805
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #458 #477
Religious Affiliation - Churches of Christ - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uark.edu harding.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Arkansas Harding University
Tuition (In State) $7,666 $22,500
Tuition (Out of State) $25,420 $22,500
Room & Board $12,368 $7,984
Avg Net Price $16,208 $19,558
Avg Grant Aid $8,474 $14,682
% Receiving Grant Aid 60% 97%

Admission

Arkansas Harding University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 26,219 2,254
Admitted 20,695 1,017
Acceptance Rate 78.9% 45.1%
Enrolled % 34.3% 78.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.71
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Average Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 20/28
SAT Range 1030/1220 1040/1300
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Arkansas Harding University
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Arkansas Harding University
Graduation Rate 59% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,400 $44,800
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $222 $279

Diversity

Arkansas Harding University
% Men 44% 42%
% Women 56% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 77% 83%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 8% 4%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 6%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Arkansas Harding University
% In-State 39% 28%
% Out-of-State 60% 68%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Arkansas is larger than than Harding University based on total student enrollment (30,936 students vs. 4,805 students)

Arkansas vs. Harding University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Arkansas or Harding University?

  • Harding University is 193.5% more expensive to attend than Arkansas for in-state tuition ($22,500.00 vs. $7,666.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13% higher at Arkansas than Harding University ($25,420.00 vs. $22,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Arkansas than Harding University ($16,208 vs. $19,558)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 54.9% lower than costs at University of Arkansas ($7,984 vs. $12,368)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Harding University than University of Arkansas (97% vs. 60%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harding University students is 73.3% larger than aid received University of Arkansas ($14,682 vs. $8,474)

Arkansas vs. Harding University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Arkansas (1154) is 19 points higher than at Harding University (1135)
  • Incoming Arkansas students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Harding University (25)
  • Accepted freshman Arkansas students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Harding University (3.71)
  • Arkansas has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than Harding University (45.1%)

Arkansas vs. Harding University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Arkansas or Harding 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 Harding University and Arkansas.

  • The graduation rate at Harding University is higher than University of Arkansas (63% vs. 59%)
  • Graduates from University of Arkansas earn on average $5,600 more per year than Harding University graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $44,800)
  • University of Arkansas students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Arkansas graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($222 vs. $279)
  • More Harding University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Arkansas students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 66%)

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