Harding University
Searcy, AR · Private · Town (distant)
Private institution in Searcy, AR · 3,323 undergraduates · 100% acceptance rate · $52,876 median earnings 10 years after entry.
- Top 19%Graduation rate (4-year)
- Top 20%Full-time retention
Stats
College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.
Cost
- Average net price
- $20,5791,129th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
- In-state tuition & fees
- $24,8881,219th cheapest of 2,024 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $24,8881,062nd cheapest of 2,024 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- $36,3851,128th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
- Median graduate debt
- $26,5001,533rd lowest of 1,865 reporting
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $52,876915th highest of 1,954 reporting
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $43,555979th highest of 1,950 reporting
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 70.9%389th highest of 2,014 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 86.6%360th highest of 1,837 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 100.0%1,545th most selective of 1,596 reporting
- Average SAT
- 1187436th highest of 1,022 reporting
- Median ACT
- 24420th highest of 952 reporting
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 3,323649th largest of 2,144 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 16.0:11,454th smallest of 2,141 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 19.2%1,742nd highest of 2,122 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 290 mi (BNA)
On 3 of our 111 lists
Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.
Best-paying fields of study
Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 64 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | bachelors | $69,338 | $66,104 |
| Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness | bachelors | $57,318 | $57,047 |
| Mechanical EngineeringEngineering | bachelors | $57,318 | $58,673 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Science | bachelors | $56,544 | $52,733 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professions | bachelors | $56,415 | $58,221 |
| Finance and Financial Management ServicesBusiness | bachelors | $52,733 | $52,941 |
| Criminal Justice and CorrectionsHomeland Security & Law Enforcement | bachelors | $39,153 | $33,993 |
| MarketingBusiness | bachelors | $39,009 | $44,800 |
| Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness | bachelors | $38,289 | $36,668 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasEducation | bachelors | $34,704 | $33,993 |
| Bible/Biblical StudiesTheology | bachelors | $33,993 | $31,038 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsEducation | bachelors | $33,921 | $36,248 |
Campus facts
- Religious affiliation: Churches of Christsource
- Founded in 1924source
- Athletic nickname: "Bisons"source
- Competes in NCAA Division IIsource
- School colors: Black and Goldsource
- Motto: "Inspired Purpose"source
- Campus size: about 350 acressource
- Formerly known as "Harper College" (1915–1924)source
- Formerly known as "Arkansas Christian College" (1919–1924)source
- Formerly known as "Harding College" (1924–1979)source
- Athletic conference: GACsource
- A [[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program institutionsource
- A Space-grant]] institutionsource
- Notable alum: Ken Starrsource
Athletics — 9 sports
NCAA Division II with football · NCAA Division II
Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $4,405,176 (M $2,758,641 · W $1,646,535)
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
- Volleyball
- Football: 2023
Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.
Similar-size colleges
Nearest undergraduate enrollment to Harding University’s 3,323 (College Scorecard UGDS, compiled 2026-10-24). Size only — not a judgment of similarity or quality.
In AR
- University of Arkansas GranthamLIttle Rock, AR · 3,202 undergrads
- Southern Arkansas University Main CampusMagnolia, AR · 2,865 undergrads
- University of Arkansas-Fort SmithFort Smith, AR · 4,133 undergrads
- University of Arkansas at Little RockLittle Rock, AR · 4,740 undergrads
- University of Arkansas at Pine BluffPine Bluff, AR · 1,899 undergrads
- University of Arkansas at MonticelloMonticello, AR · 1,868 undergrads
Elsewhere
- Alabama State UniversityMontgomery, AL · 3,322 undergrads
- Oral Roberts UniversityTulsa, OK · 3,322 undergrads
- New York Institute of TechnologyOld Westbury, NY · 3,320 undergrads
- University of La VerneLa Verne, CA · 3,341 undergrads
- College of the MainlandTexas City, TX · 3,342 undergrads
- St. Joseph's University-New YorkBrooklyn, NY · 3,343 undergrads
Key links
- Official websiteharding.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 107044)
- Compare colleges in ARRe-score with your weights
- The Most Selective Colleges in ArkansasEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
- Compare with University of Arkansas GranthamSide by side on every Scorecard measure — closest in-state school by enrollment
- Showdown: Harding University vs University of Arkansas GranthamHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Sports directoryAll 9 EADA programs at this school
- Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
- MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
- How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
- Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
- What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
- A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.