Harding University
Private nonprofit four-year university in Searcy, AR that costs an average of $19,786 a year after financial aid, admits 71% of applicants and graduates 71% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$19,786
Acceptance rate
71%
Graduation rate
71%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$56,146
Private nonprofitTown (distant)3,382 undergraduates
Cost of Harding University
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $39,651 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $27,282 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $10,124 |
| Books and supplies | $688 |
| Average net price after aid | $19,786 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $17,711 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $24,811 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $25,119 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $25,661 |
| $110,001+ | $26,220 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with Harding University's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 71% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,182 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 530–660 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 520–630 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 20–29 |
| Test scores | Required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 71% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 86% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $47,076 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $56,146 |
| Rank in Arkansas (earnings) | 5th of 22 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $24,329 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $276 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 26% |
| Students with federal loans | 41% |
Majors and programs at Harding University
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (80)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 94 | $73,395 | $27,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 40 | $72,039 | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 17 | $69,978 | — |
| Computer Science | 65 | $66,880 | $27,375 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 72 | $58,551 | $24,472 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 33 | $53,002 | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 44 | $50,668 | $22,500 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 59 | $48,954 | $23,989 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 59 | $44,893 | $26,091 |
| Bible/Biblical Studies | 59 | $44,505 | — |
| Marketing | 45 | $43,475 | $22,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 112 | $42,678 | $27,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 23 | $37,709 | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 41 | $35,866 | $28,125 |
| Psychology | 58 | $35,171 | $27,000 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 89 | $25,208 | $27,000 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | — | — | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | — | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 11 | — | — |
| Biology | 22 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 11 | — | — |
| Business/Corporate Communications | — | — | — |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 14 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 7 | — | — |
| Civil Engineering | 13 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | — | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 1 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 6 | — | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 55 | — | $23,335 |
| Computer Engineering | 6 | — | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | — | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 6 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 39 | — | $27,000 |
| Data Science | 3 | — | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 4 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 15 | — | — |
| Economics | — | — | — |
| Education | 8 | — | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 6 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 22 | — | — |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences | — | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 8 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 17 | — | — |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | — | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | — | — | — |
| Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities | 31 | — | — |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | 7 | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | 5 | — | — |
| History | 17 | — | — |
| Housing and Human Environments | 1 | — | — |
| Human Biology | 1 | — | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 18 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | — | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 1 | — | — |
| International Business | 38 | — | — |
| International/Globalization Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Journalism | 13 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 12 | — | — |
| Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology | 5 | — | — |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | 31 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 3 | — | — |
| Music | 8 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 2 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | — | — | — |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | 7 | — | — |
| Physics | 3 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 16 | — | — |
| Public Administration | 4 | — | — |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 19 | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | — | — | — |
| Religious Education | — | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 9 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 17 | — | — |
| Security Science and Technology | 2 | — | — |
| Social Sciences | 2 | — | — |
| Social Work | 52 | — | $25,267 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 9 | — | — |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 6 | — | — |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | 2 | — | — |
Certificate programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (28)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 67 | $110,819 | $131,453 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 59 | $106,033 | $57,129 |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | 27 | $79,289 | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 89 | $76,630 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 148 | $67,184 | $20,500 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 38 | $57,394 | $54,600 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 88 | $49,522 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 15 | $47,942 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 132 | $47,308 | $27,139 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 68 | $47,198 | $34,186 |
| Behavioral Sciences | 2 | — | — |
| Bible/Biblical Studies | — | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 39 | — | $34,689 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | — | — | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 4 | — | — |
| Education | — | — | — |
| Education, Other | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 19 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | — | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | — | — | — |
| History | 1 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 31 | — | — |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | — | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | — | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 27 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | — | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 24 | $81,717 | — |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | — | — | — |
Professional degree programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 68 | $115,516 | $221,587 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 54 | $76,367 | $181,827 |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | 8 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (4)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | — | $45,736 | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | — | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | — | — |
Similar colleges in Arkansas
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia | $25,343 | 68% | $52,333 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs | $22,476 | 76% | $58,769 |
| Hendrix College | Conway | $23,177 | 56% | $59,310 |
| University of the Ozarks | Clarksville | $17,192 | 60% | $44,113 |
| Philander Smith University | Little Rock | $22,153 | — | $40,195 |
| Lyon College | Batesville | $14,400 | 63% | $49,833 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway | $20,276 | 63% | $49,734 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge | $17,814 | 83% | $47,042 |
About Harding University
| Type | Private nonprofit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Searcy, AR |
| Setting | Town (distant) |
| Undergraduates | 3,382 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 13 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Higher Learning Commission |
| Website | harding.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is Harding University's acceptance rate?
Harding University admits 71% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,182 on the SAT.
How much does Harding University cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $39,651 a year (tuition and fees: $27,282). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $19,786 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $17,711.
How much do Harding University graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $56,146 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 5th of 22 similar colleges in Arkansas. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($73,395 a year after graduation).
What is Harding University's graduation rate?
71% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 86% of first-year students return for a second year.