Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Harding University is a private national university located in Searcy, Arkansas. Harding University is moderately inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Harding University is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $47,520 10 years after enrolling, 3rd in Arkansas, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Harding University bachelor students earn 2% less than the national average. Harding University is ranked 3rd in Arkansas.
Harding University’s median net annual cost of $19,456 and average years to graduate of 4.6 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Harding University sorted by number of graduates - Education, Health & Fitness, Registered Nursing, Accounting, Psychology, Liberal Arts and Sciences - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$19,456
Average years to graduate
4.6
Mechanical Engineering
Rank: #191
Economic score: 2.21
Computer Science
Rank: #171
Economic score: 2.24
Computer science
Rank: #166
Economic score: 2.31
Finance
Rank: #117
Economic score: 2.37
Marketing
Rank: #239
Economic score: 4.06
Business Administration
Rank: #526
Economic score: 4.25
Advertising & PR
Rank: #60
Economic score: 4.48
Biblical Studies
Rank: #2
Economic score: 5.02
Design & Applied Arts
Rank: #116
Economic score: 5.36
Education (subject specific)
Rank: #246
Economic score: 7.54
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Harding University - Education, Business Administration, Diagnostic, Intervention & Treatment , Communication disorder sciences, Student Counseling, Registered Nursing - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Educ. Administration
Rank: #166
Economic score: 0.45
Education (subject specific)
Rank: #122
Economic score: 0.74
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.6 years. 67% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Harding University is 17% higher than the state average, and 1% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Harding University, Pell Grant recipients represent 21% of the measured graduating class, 14% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Harding University graduates within 4.6 years.
Harding University is in the bottom 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Harding University’s economic mobility score of 9.77 is calculated by adjusting the 3.98 economic score of lower-income students by the 21% pell grant recipients within the student body. Harding University’s EMS of 9.77 ranks in the bottom 25% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 25%
The average Title IV recipient at Harding University pays $19,456 a year, $14,024 less than the $33,480 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $19,456
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Harding University, 97% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $19,456 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 46% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $7,026. This is 8% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,607
Pell grants
$4,697
State grants
$2,545
Institutional grants
$11,161
Harding University's moderately inclusive admissions are indicated by their 54% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 2,200 applicants, of which 1,191 were admitted and 748 enrolled. Harding University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
97%
83%
Female
57%
59%
First time
78%
59%
In-state
27%
68%
1st generation
21%
35%
White
80%
52%
Black
5%
14%
Hispanic
4%
15%
Asian
1%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
10%
12%