C+
Above Average
Score: 56/100
Overall (traditional)
B+
Outcome Rating
74/100 · earnings-weighted

Harding University

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Searcy, Arkansas 72149
Outcomes
A
82/100
Affordability
F
29/100
Resources
C
47/100
Experience
A
84/100
Prestige
D
39/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

4,608
Total Enrollment
71%
Graduation Rate
87%
Retention Rate
16.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
100%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Harding University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$52,876
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$43,555
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$26,500
Median debt at graduation
68.8%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,182
Average SAT
24
Median ACT
23.8%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 50% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 72nd percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (AR wage index 0.72). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Harding University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer Science$78,041$92,014-14%#227 of 349#125$24,149
Accounting and Related Services$58,649$80,311+5%#249 of 796#89$27,000
Mechanical Engineering$53,229$73,601-20%#317 of 318#243$27,000
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$69,743$71,872-19%#931 of 966#626$29,000
Finance and Financial Management Services$53,876$71,203-15%#319 of 452#171$27,250
Marketing$46,738$62,558-10%#351 of 516#145$27,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations$40,081$62,025-9%#718 of 1176#291$27,500
Design and Applied Arts$35,582$60,567+18%#75 of 299#18—
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics—$58,843+7%#84 of 225#21—
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services—$58,184-1%#116 of 215#29$23,418
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$29,178$54,149-1%#284 of 610#94$24,812
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$33,577$51,434-19%#159 of 178#114$26,767
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$40,489$51,067-1%#173 of 345#33$27,000
Criminal Justice and Corrections$38,818$48,992-12%#518 of 660#252$24,955
Social Work$41,835$48,833-6%#307 of 420#72$29,000
Bible/Biblical Studies$48,073$48,762+9%#12 of 35#4$19,913
Psychology$29,219$45,814-10%#763 of 1027#266$27,000
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$27,686$41,328-22%#435 of 476#347$26,829
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$42,251$41,228-13%#615 of 680#398$26,687
Education$39,242————$26,192
English Language and Literature$19,588$37,384-23%#542 of 576#433$27,000

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

🏆 Where Harding University Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#6
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science and Allied Professions, Other
of 8 schools
#13
Bible/Biblical Studies
of 35 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $24,240 $24,240
Room $4,460
Board $5,256
Total Cost (On-Campus) $39,298 $39,298

Financial Aid

100%
Receive Any Aid
21%
Receive Pell Grants
46%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

4,608
Total Students
57%
Women
89%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 78%
Hispanic 4%
Black 7%
Asian 2%
Two or More 3%
Non-Resident 5%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 71%
Hybrid (Some Online) 17%
Fully Online 12%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 89%
25-64 (Adult) 5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Harding University?
Harding University has an acceptance rate of 100%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Harding University?
Tuition at Harding University is $24,240 for in-state students and $24,240 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Harding University?
The graduation rate at Harding University is 71%. This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is Harding University a good school?
Harding University has a Repit College Score of 56/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (A): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Harding University?
Harding University has a total enrollment of 4,608 students. Most students (89%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Harding University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Harding University

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

C+
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR · 2,341 students
C+
Ouachita Baptist University
Arkadelphia, AR · 1,815 students
C+
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR · 5,506 students
C+
Arkansas Tech University
Russellville, AR · 9,487 students
C+
University of the Ozarks
Clarksville, AR · 763 students
C+
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Monticello, AR · 2,739 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology