Harding University vs. SU

Should I go to Harding University or Southwestern University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Harding University or SU 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. Southwestern University comparison
Harding University Southwestern University College 3 College 4
Harding University Southwestern University
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Overview

 Harding University SU
Location Searcy, AR Georgetown, TX
Setting Distant Town Distant Town
Enrollment 4,805 1,483
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #477 #187
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harding.edu southwestern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Harding University SU
Tuition (In State) $22,500 $48,450
Tuition (Out of State) $22,500 $48,450
Room & Board $7,984 $12,300
Avg Net Price $19,558 $31,014
Avg Grant Aid $14,682 $30,609
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 98%

Admission

 Harding University SU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,254 5,557
Admitted 1,017 2,489
Acceptance Rate 45.1% 44.8%
Enrolled % 78.9% 17.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.71 3.5
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 20/28 24/30
SAT Range 1040/1300 1120/1355
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2024

Academics

 Harding University SU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (8%)

Outcomes

 Harding University SU
Graduation Rate 63% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $57,400
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,893
Median Loan Payment $279 $278

Diversity

 Harding University SU
% Men 42% 46%
% Women 58% 54%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 83% 62%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 4% 22%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

 Harding University SU
% In-State 28% 84%
% Out-of-State 68% 13%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Harding University is larger than than SU based on total student enrollment (4,805 students vs. 1,483 students)

Harding University vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harding University or SU?

  • Southwestern University is 115.3% more expensive to attend than Harding University for in-state tuition ($48,450.00 vs. $22,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 115.3% higher at SU than Harding University ($48,450.00 vs. $22,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harding University than SU ($19,558 vs. $31,014)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 54.1% lower than costs at Southwestern University ($7,984 vs. $12,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southwestern University than Harding University (98% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southwestern University students is 108.5% larger than aid received Harding University ($30,609 vs. $14,682)

Harding University vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Southwestern University (1168) is 33 points higher than at Harding University (1135)
  • Incoming SU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Harding University (25)
  • Accepted freshman Harding University students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at SU (3.5)
  • Harding University has a higher acceptance rate (45.1%) than SU (44.8%)

Harding University vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harding University or SU? 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 SU and Harding University.

  • The graduation rate at SU is higher than Harding University (73% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from Southwestern University earn on average $12,600 more per year than Harding University graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $44,800)
  • Southwestern University students graduate with a $107 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($26,893 vs. $27,000)
  • SU graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($278 vs. $279)
  • More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harding University students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 71%)

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