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Harding University
Most applicants get into Harding University — 70.5% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Harding University anchors the college town of Searcy, AR, where the private campus and town largely share a footprint. The school maintains its Churches of Christ affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $92,014 four years out. Faculty pay averages $96,096 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 3,382 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 86.4% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1050 and 1280 — above the AR middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Harding University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Harding University requires SAT or ACT scores from all applicants — the middle 50% ranges below describe Harding University's full admitted class, not a self-selected subset.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 530 | 600 | 650 |
| SAT Math | 520 | 570 | 630 |
| ACT Composite | 21 | 24 | 28 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Harding University received 2,202 applications and admitted 2,202 (100%), with 864 enrolling.
How Harding University compares
| Harding University | Arkansas median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 70.5% | 70.5% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $26,262 | $13,467 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $52,876 | $44,308 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Harding University student earns $52,876 — 19% above the Arkansas median of $44,308 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Harding University lists tuition at $26,262 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Harding University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $26,262 as the ceiling, not the bill.
Harding University enrolls 3,382 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Harding University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
68.8% graduate within six years. Roughly 31% don't — ask a Harding University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Harding University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $92,014 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $80,311 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $73,601 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $71,872 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $71,203 |
| Marketing | $62,558 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $62,025 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $60,567 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $58,843 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $58,184 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $54,149 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $51,434 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $51,067 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $48,992 |
| Social Work | $48,833 |
| Bible/Biblical Studies | $48,762 |
| Psychology, General | $45,814 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $41,328 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $41,228 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $37,384 |
Median earnings for these 20 Harding University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $52,876 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 54 additional Harding University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Harding University?
Among the admitted class, the middle 50% scored 1050–1280 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 70.5% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Harding University's acceptance rate?
100% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 2,202 admitted from 2,202 applicants.
How much does Harding University cost?
At Harding University, published tuition is $26,262 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Harding University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Harding University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $52,876 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Arkansas
- John Brown University — 76.1% admitted
- Central Baptist College — 63.5% admitted
- Ouachita Baptist University — 67.5% admitted
- Arkansas State University — 82.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.