70.52%

Acceptance Rate

$10,288

Avg.Financial Aid

001097

FAFSA Code

Harding University Report Card

Selectivity
70.5% acceptance rate
Academics
B-
69% graduation rate
Class Size
C-
16:1 student-faculty ratio
Value
B+
$26,262 tuition

Grades calculated by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES data. Methodology: How we grade →

Key Facts: Harding University

Institution
Harding University
Type
Private not-for-profit

Data compiled by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES and official university sources. Last verified July 2026. Citable source →

Harding University

  • Type Control of Institution - Public/Private

    Private, Not-For-Profit

  • Acceptance Rate:

    N/A

  • Level

    4 Years

  • Religious Affiliation Indicates religious affiliation (denomination) for private not-for-profit institutions that are religiously affiliated.

    Churches of Christ

  • Accreditation Accreditation is the process by which the quality of learning at various educational institutions are evaluated. Read More.

    HLC

  • Website

    www.harding.edu
  • Student Population Number of Students attending College

    3,382

  • On Campus Housing Does the institution provide on-campus housing?

    Yes

Harding University is a Churches of Christ-affiliated thorough university in rural Arkansas that operates with genuine educational rigor and community commitment. With about 4,200 undergraduates in Searcy, this is mid-size enough for resources but intimate enough to matter. The business program is solid. The engineering program is genuinely well-supported. The nursing program is rigorous and leads to jobs. The liberal arts education is real and meaningful. The education program prepares teachers. Located in rural Arkansas, you have access to genuine small-town community while being within driving distance of Little Rock and Memphis. The campus is beautiful, well-maintained, and feels like a place built for learning and community.

The Churches of Christ affiliation translates into genuine community values and student support structures. Class sizes are manageable; professors teach as a priority. The advising is personal and substantive. The career services office has real connections to regional employers. The residential experience is community-oriented; students build genuine friendships and networks. The student body is thoughtful and engaged; there's a genuine culture of integrity and mutual respect. The service learning component is real. The chapel life is meaningful for students of faith; for others, it's a context to engage respectfully with different perspectives. The library is well-supported.

Cost is reasonable, and Harding is committed to need-based aid and merit scholarships. Searcy is a genuine college town with actual community and lower cost of living. The rural location offers genuine quality of life and access to natural resources. If you're looking for a mid-size, values-centered thorough university where community is genuine, where education is taken seriously, and where you can graduate with minimal debt, Harding delivers.

Location & Contact

Address

915 E. Market Ave., Searcy, Arkansas

Contact

Phone: (501) 279-4000
Find Your School

Rankings

The ranking of a particular university helps a student decide where to apply, which is always a tough decision. The ranking of a university is a great way to gauge its performance on several factors like research excellence, the performance of its students after graduation, student experience, and academic success. Usually, the rankings by Forbes and US News are considered noteworthy by applicants and experts. Harding University doesn't feature in the list of top colleges, according to the latest rankings of these two publications.

Admissions

  • Application Deadline Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.

    Rolling Admissions

  • Acceptance Rate Percentage of applicants who are accepted in an Institution.

    70.52%

  • SAT Range

    1060 - 1300

  • SAT/ACT

    Recommended

  • ACT Range

    22 - 29

  • High School GPA

    Recommended

  • Application Fee

    $50

  • Accept Common App

    None

The students can make the most out of the admission process as the admission at the university is easy. The varsity has 2 admission thresholds. The admission process starts by filling up the form and submitting a fee of $50. As per the past trends, the SAT score of a student must lie in the range of 1060-1270 to improve her chances. A candidate, in order to take admission to Harding University, must score 25 in her ACTs. But, in certain cases, those having ACT scores less than 21 are also given admission. The application process can be completed online. However, if needed, one can also visit the office at 915 E. Market Ave., Searcy, Arkansas 72149-5615, or call (501) 279-4000.

Annual Cost to Attend

  • Net Price Cost of attendance minus any grants and scholarships received.

    $22,130

  • Average Annual Cost

    $26,262

Additional Costs:

  • Books And Supplies

    $30,671

  • Other Fees

    $705

  • Room And Board The charges for an academic year for Rooming accommodations and meals for a typical student.

    $7,004

  • Budget For Other Expenses

    $2,622

Total One Year Cost

$30,671

Before applying to HU, candidates must keep in mind the tuition fees and the cost of living during the course tenure. The annual full-time cost of attendance comes out to be approximately $31,911. This cost includes the average annual tuition cost ($20,735), books and supplies ($1,200), room and boarding ($7,170), and budget for other expenses ($2,806). For students seeking financial assistance, the university offers a number of options.

Academics

Highest Degree Offered The highest degree offered by the Institution.

Doctor's degree

Student:Faculty Ratio

16:1

Full-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

86%

Part-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

N/A

Academic Calendar

Semester

Research Funding per Student

N/A

Faculty Overview

62%

Male Professors

38%

Female Professors

Non-traditional Learning

Evening Degree Programs

Teacher Certification

Distance Education

Study Abroad

Majors

Most Popular Majors:

  • Teacher Education and Professional...

    99 Graduates

  • Liberal Arts and Sciences, General...

    70 Graduates

  • Accounting and Related Services

    55 Graduates

  • Health and Physical Education/Fitne...

    52 Graduates

  • Communication Disorders Sciences an...

    47 Graduates

  • Registered Nursing, Administration,...

    44 Graduates

  • Psychology, General

    43 Graduates

  • Teacher Education and Professional...

    41 Graduates

  • Communication Disorders Sciences an...

    47 Graduates

  • Registered Nursing, Administration,...

    44 Graduates

  • Psychology, General

    43 Graduates

  • Teacher Education and Professional...

    41 Graduates

  • Bible/Biblical Studies

    37 Graduates

  • Marketing

    36 Graduates

  • Computer and Information Sciences,...

    34 Graduates

  • Finance and Financial Management Se...

    33 Graduates

  • Business Administration, Management...

    26 Graduates

  • Computer Science

    26 Graduates

  • Social Work

    25 Graduates

  • Public Relations, Advertising, and...

    23 Graduates

  • International Business

    22 Graduates

  • Criminal Justice and Corrections

    20 Graduates

  • Romance Languages, Literatures, and...

    18 Graduates

  • Design and Applied Arts

    17 Graduates

  • Mechanical Engineering

    16 Graduates

  • Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomica...

    15 Graduates

  • Human Development, Family Studies,...

    15 Graduates

  • Journalism

    13 Graduates

  • Radio, Television, and Digital Comm...

    13 Graduates

  • Biology, General

    12 Graduates

  • Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecu...

    11 Graduates

  • English Language and Literature, Ge...

    11 Graduates

  • Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervent...

    10 Graduates

  • Mathematics

    10 Graduates

  • Pastoral Counseling and Specialized...

    10 Graduates

  • Specialized Sales, Merchandising an...

    10 Graduates

  • Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

    8 Graduates

  • Music

    8 Graduates

  • Public Administration

    8 Graduates

  • Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Se...

    7 Graduates

  • Fine and Studio Arts

    7 Graduates

  • History

    7 Graduates

  • Biomedical/Medical Engineering

    6 Graduates

  • Communication and Media Studies

    5 Graduates

  • Health/Medical Preparatory Programs

    5 Graduates

  • Economics

    4 Graduates

  • General Sales, Merchandising and Re...

    4 Graduates

  • Health and Medical Administrative S...

    4 Graduates

  • Neurobiology and Neurosciences

    4 Graduates

  • Social Sciences, General

    4 Graduates

  • International/Global Studies

    3 Graduates

  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, G...

    3 Graduates

  • Physics

    3 Graduates

  • Chemistry

    2 Graduates

  • Computer Engineering

    2 Graduates

  • Computer Software and Media Applica...

    2 Graduates

  • Electrical, Electronics and Communi...

    2 Graduates

  • Family and Consumer Sciences/Human...

    2 Graduates

  • Housing and Human Environments

    2 Graduates

  • Political Science and Government

    2 Graduates

  • Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science...

    1 Graduates

Show More

Student Body

Undergraduate Students

3,974

Socio-Economic Diversity Percent of full-time, first-time students receiving an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

26%

Full-time / Part-time

94% / 6%

Students Gender

Male

46%

US National: 44%

Female

54%

US National: 56%

LGBTQIA STUDENT RESOURCE GROUPS

ON CAMPUS WOMEN'S CENTER

Race/Ethnicity

White

82%

Unknown

0%

Black

4%

Hispanic

4%

Two or more races

3%

Non Resident alien

6%

Asian

1%

American Indian/Alaska native

0%

Native Hawaiians/Pacific islander

0%

Geographic Density

Geographic Density

High

0%

Unknown Location

69%

Out Of State

27%

In State

4%

Foreign

Economic Diversity

36% percentage of students who recieved an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Median Household Income

$61,758 per year

Campus Life

Housing

The students can reside on campus and 97% of Freshman Live On-Campus.

On Campus Housing Available

Yes

Freshmen Required to Live on Campus

No

Freshmen Live on Campus

97%

Undergrads in College Housing

N/A

Averege Housing Cost

$3,658/year

Campus Food

The institution has several dining and meal plan options available to students and the average meal plan cost is around $4,076/year.

Meal Plan Available

Yes

Average Meal Plan Available

$4,076/year

Athletes

Division Sports Nickname

Bisons/Lady Bisons

School Colors

black and gold

Varsity Athletics Association

NCAA

Varsity Athletics Conference Primary

Great American Conference

Total Male Athletes

284

Total Female Athletes

137

Intramural Sports

10

Sports Club

4

Sports Team (Men)

Baseball

Basketball

Cross Country

Football

Golf

Soccer

Tennis

Track and Field

Sports Team (Women)

Basketball

Cheerleading-Dance Team

Cross Country

Golf

Soccer

Softball

Tennis

Track and Field

Volleyball

Campus Security

The university offers on-campus housing facilities to the students who wish to stay on the campus. The normal expense for on-campus housing is $7,170 per year. The students at Harding University have several dining and meal plan options to choose from. Moreover, the average meal plan costs around $4,076 per year. To ensure the safety and security of students, the university has a number of campus safety and security measures in place. Some of these features include 24-hr security patrol, campus emergency phones, 24-hr escort safety rides and mobile campus emergency alert. The number of female and male students at the university are 45% and 55%, respectively.

24-Hour Security Patrol

Campus Emergency Phones

24-Hour Escort Safety rides

Mobile Campus Emergency Alert

After Graduation

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation

$33,400/year

Median Earnings 10 Years After Graduation

$40,900/year

Median Total Debt After Graduation The median cumulative federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated.

$23,250 - $29,770

Typical Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 4.53% interest rate.

$241 - $309

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Show data for students who

and started their studies

Out of 7,811 students

30% Graduated

10% Still Enrolled

15% Transfer

1% Withdraw

Financial Aid

Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid.

96%

Average Aid Per Year

$10,288

Students Receiving Federal Grants

25%

Average Aid Per Year

$4,448

Students Receiving State Aid

25%

Average Aid Per Year

$1,674

Students Receiving Institutional Grants

95%

Average Aid Per Year

$8,783

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

Income

Average Amount

< $30K

$15,032

$30K - $48K

$14,385

$48K - $75K

$11,731

$75K - $110K

$8,325

> $110K

$7,477

Total Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$1,642,955

Total Non-Needs based Scholarships/Grants

$12,717,618

As mentioned, if one finds the fees and cost of living at HU to be on the higher side, the financial aid department of the varsity would be of huge assistance. They can assist students with scholarships, grants, and student loans as well. The average federal grant that comes from the university is around $4,742, whereas the financial aid is $9,281. The students at the university are provided with state aid and institutional aid. The state aid stands at $2,252, while the institutional aid is $9,281. The total need-based scholarships/grants offered at HU based on students' financial needs add up to $1,642,955 per year. Meanwhile, the total non-need-based scholarships/grants in a year come to around $12,717,618.

Frequently Asked Questions About Harding University

How hard is it to get into Harding University?

Harding University is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 70.5%. Strong applicants typically have above-average test scores, a rigorous course load, and compelling extracurricular activities.

How much does Harding University cost?

Tuition at Harding University is approximately $26,262 per year before financial aid. Room, board, fees, and personal expenses add to the total cost of attendance. Most students receive scholarships or financial aid that reduces the net price.

How many students attend Harding University?

Harding University enrolls approximately 3,382 students across its programs.

What is the graduation rate at Harding University?

The graduation rate at Harding University is 69%, reflecting the percentage of students who complete their degree within the standard timeframe.

What is the student-faculty ratio at Harding University?

The student-faculty ratio at Harding University is 16:1, meaning students typically have good access to faculty for mentoring, research, and smaller class experiences.

What SAT and ACT scores do I need for Harding University?

Harding University typically admits students with SAT scores in the range of 530-660 (Reading) and 520-630 (Math) and ACT composite scores of 20-29. Check the admissions office for the most current testing requirements and whether test-optional policies apply.

Is Harding University a public or private university?

Harding University is a private not-for-profit institution.

When is the application deadline for Harding University?

Application deadlines at Harding University vary by program. Early Decision and Early Action applicants typically submit in November, while Regular Decision deadlines fall in early January. Always check the official admissions website for the current cycle's dates.

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