Harding University
Searcy, AR
Harding University is a private Christian liberal arts university located in Searcy, Arkansas. Founded in 1924, it has developed into one of the largest private universities in Arkansas. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including business, education, engineering, health sciences, and humanities.
Harding University prides itself on its commitment to academic excellence and spiritual development. It seeks to integrate faith and learning, encouraging students to explore and deepen their faith while pursuing a well-rounded education. The faculty and staff at Harding are dedicated to providing a supportive and nurturing environment for students and are known for their accessibility and individual attention.
The campus of Harding University is spread across a 350-acre picturesque landscape, featuring beautiful Georgian-style buildings, modern facilities, and state-of-the-art technology. The university offers numerous extracurricular activities, including over 100 student organizations, clubs, and sports teams, allowing students to engage in leadership opportunities, develop their talents, and make lifelong friends. Harding's strong commitment to community service and its mission trips both nationally and internationally provide students with opportunities to serve others and make a positive impact in the world.
Located in Searcy, AR, Harding University is a private university. Its campus is 350 acres in size. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 45%. The freshman retention rate at Harding University is 84.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 69%.
Here are some latest data on important things to consider about Harding University.
Quick Facts
3,523
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
45%
Acceptance Rate
$24,240
Tuition
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
69%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. Check out some essential data about admission at Harding University.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,016 in 2023. Harding University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 28% and ACT scores 76%. 13% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 25% between 1,200 and 1,399, 45% between 1,000 and 1,199, 16% between 800 and 999, and 1% between 600 and 799. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 19, 33 between 24-29, 41 in the range between 18-23, and 7 between 12-17.
The ACT composite average score for all the enrolled students in 2023 was 25 and the average GPA was 3.74. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Harding University; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 600 and an average SAT Math score of 580.
Retention Rate
The percentage of first-year students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2023, the freshman retention rate for Harding University was 84.4%, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 69%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Making the decision of which school is the optimal place for you is not simple. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Harding University in 2023 was 4,805.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 66% for that year. There was a total of 3,523 undergraduate students, including 154 international students. The school admitted a total of 109 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,496 male and 2,072 female full-time students in 2023, which is indicative of the value gender equality has at this school. There were 183 full-time graduate male and 376 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Harding University.
In 2023, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 41, and the number of Black American students was 123. 105 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 86 as multirace. The school also had 2 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 13 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 3 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Harding University estimated tuition costs.
In 2023, tuition amounted to $24,240 for all full-time domestic students. Harding University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $540 in 2023.
Books and Supplies
The approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another significant financial factor. Most students have to allocate about $1,200 for books and supplies during their time at Harding University.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
In 2023, room and board cost at Harding University amounted to $8,110 a year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school amounted to $4,460, according to the data from 2023. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $40,688.
| Tuition | $ 24,240 |
| Room and Board | $ 8,110 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 33,550 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial aid can be a great deal for a number of students. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Harding University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 450 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $15,072.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
1,729 students were designated some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Harding University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 1,824. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $3,855,334, and state $1,669,250. The students of Harding University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $14,357,902, and external in the amount of $763,485.
$10,203
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
233 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2023. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 96 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $3,855,334 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $38,910. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $11,338,968. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $2,534,361 USD.
Majors
Faculty
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2023, this ratio at Harding University was 12:1. That means that there were 12 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 371 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 250 men and 197 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Harding University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about students' life at Harding University.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 120. Other popular student organizations at this school are Harding in Action and Bisons for Christ.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Harding University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. For students who have a passion for media and communication, Harding University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Harding University provides a number of services vital for a pleasant and secure life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Harding University.
All in all, campus life at Harding University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Harding University.
Career Counselling
At Harding University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Harding University is located in Searcy, AR.
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Harding University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Harding University is 24,240 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Harding University is 45%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Harding University is 84.4%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.