Harding University
#1 Best Education Colleges in Arkansas- Graduation Rate
- 70% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $52,876 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $22,130 D+
- 29% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 71% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 15.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.2 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Education Colleges in Arkansas.
Every $1 spent returns $15.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,258,141.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 30% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $15.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Harding University Matters
Harding University is a private doctoral / professional university in Searcy, AR and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 3,382
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 74
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Harding University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 71% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1050–1290. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $22,130 a year after grants and scholarships — 29% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $52,876 ten years after enrolling — 30% above the typical college, against $26,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 90% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.69 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Harding University has a graduation rate of 70%, a solid statistic that highlights student persistence and success. With an acceptance rate of 71%, it welcomes a diverse group of students eager to pursue their education in Searcy, Arkansas.
According to the Chetty/Opportunity Insights data, specific mobility metrics are not available for Harding University. However, the school does cater to a significant number of Pell Grant recipients, indicating its role in supporting lower-income students. The median earnings for graduates ten years after enrollment stand at $52,876, suggesting a favorable return on investment for students.
The net price for attendance is $22,130, making it an accessible option for many. Graduates face a median debt of $26,500, which is manageable compared to their earning potential. Students in business, health professions, education, computer science, and communications often thrive here, benefiting from strong programs that align with job market demands.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Harding University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Harding University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Searcy, Arkansas, Harding University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 71%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,182. The graduation rate is roughly 70%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 71%
- Retention Rate
- 86%
- SAT Average
- 1182
- ACT Midpoint
- 24
- SAT Range
- 1050–1290
- ACT Range
- 20–29
- Full-Time Faculty
- 66%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,008
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.35
- First-Gen Students
- 21%
- Applicants
- 2,254
- Admitted
- 1,017
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Harding University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Harding University is $26,262, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $22,130. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,418 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $26,262
- Out-of-State
- $26,262
- Avg Net Price
- $22,130
- Median Debt
- $26,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 24%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 44%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $15,418
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $17,430
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,832
- Family Income $110K+
- $26,284
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Harding University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Harding University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Harding University earn a median of $52,876, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $43,555
- 8 Years
- $48,980
- 10 Years
- $52,876
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.5x
- Earning > $25K
- 64%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (535)
- 50%
- 100% (535)
- 50%
- 100% (535)
- 50%
- 100% (535)
- 50%
How Harding Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Harding University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Harding University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $22,130/year ($88,520 total). Graduates earn $52,876 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,346,661 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,258,141 (15.2× your investment). The median debt is $26,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 70% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $88,520
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,346,661
- Net Return
- $1,258,141
- ROI Multiple
- 15.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $22,130
- Median Debt
- $26,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 70%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Harding University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Harding University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.75%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 4% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.75%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 18.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $133,419
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,089,031
- Investment Income
- $8,271,948
Top Programs
The fields Harding University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 17% $69,178 early-career
- Business & Marketing 15% $67,783 early-career
- Education 13% $43,070 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6% $78,544 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5% $45,495 early-career
- Psychology 5% $31,312 early-career
- Communications 4% $40,390 early-career
- Engineering 4% $69,715 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Harding University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Harding University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Searcy, Arkansas, Harding University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 71%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,182. The graduation rate is roughly 70%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Harding University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Harding University is $26,262, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $22,130. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $15,418 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,500 in federal student loans.
Is Harding University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Harding University earn a median of $52,876, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Harding University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Harding University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.75%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 4% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Harding University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Harding University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.69, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Harding University.
- Lipscomb UniversityNashville, TN · Close peer70% grad $55,541 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN · Close peer56% grad $53,610 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Calvin UniversityGrand Rapids, MI · Close peer76% grad $58,375 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Cedarville UniversityCedarville, OH · Close peer73% grad $55,443 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Touro UniversityNew York, NY · Close peer68% grad $53,419 earn 61% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Mary WashingtonFredericksburg, VA · Close peer67% grad $60,613 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Harding University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Harding University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.69, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note