Harding University vs. LSU

Should I go to Harding University or Louisiana State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Harding University or LSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Harding University vs. Louisiana State University comparison
Harding University Louisiana State University College 3 College 4
Harding University Louisiana State University
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Overview

Harding University LSU
Location Searcy, AR Baton Rouge, LA
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 4,805 37,348
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #477 #367
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harding.edu lsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harding University LSU
Tuition (In State) $22,500 $8,038
Tuition (Out of State) $22,500 $8,038
Room & Board $7,984 $13,956
Avg Net Price $19,558 $21,296
Avg Grant Aid $14,682 $12,374
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 98%

Admission

Harding University LSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,254 38,853
Admitted 1,017 29,419
Acceptance Rate 45.1% 75.7%
Enrolled % 78.9% 25.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.71 3.77
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/28 23/28
SAT Range 1040/1300 1140/1320
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2024

Academics

Harding University LSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

Harding University LSU
Graduation Rate 63% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $56,900
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $20,900
Median Loan Payment $279 $216

Diversity

Harding University LSU
% Men 42% 44%
% Women 58% 56%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 73%
% Black 4% 12%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

Harding University LSU
% In-State 28% 65%
% Out-of-State 68% 34%

Campus

Harding University LSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Louisiana State University is larger than than Harding University based on total student enrollment (37,348 students vs. 4,805 students)

Harding University vs. LSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harding University or LSU?

  • Harding University is 179.9% more expensive to attend than LSU for in-state tuition ($22,500.00 vs. $8,038.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 179.9% higher at Harding University than Louisiana State University ($22,500.00 vs. $8,038.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harding University than LSU ($19,558 vs. $21,296)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 74.8% lower than costs at Louisiana State University ($7,984 vs. $13,956)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Louisiana State University than Harding University (98% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harding University students is 18.7% larger than aid received Louisiana State University ($14,682 vs. $12,374)

Harding University vs. LSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harding University or LSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between LSU or Harding University .

  • The average SAT score at Louisiana State University (1163) is 28 points higher than at Harding University (1135)
  • Incoming LSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Harding University (25)
  • Accepted freshman LSU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at Harding University (3.71)
  • LSU has a higher acceptance rate (75.7%) than Harding University (45.1%)

Harding University vs. LSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harding University or LSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between LSU and Harding University.

  • The graduation rate at Harding University is higher than Louisiana State University (63% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Louisiana State University earn on average $12,100 more per year than Harding University graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $44,800)
  • Louisiana State University students graduate with a $6,100 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($20,900 vs. $27,000)
  • LSU graduates are paying $63 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($216 vs. $279)
  • More Harding University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LSU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 67%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/