Harding University vs. KU

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

Harding University KU
Location Searcy, AR Lawrence, KS
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 4,805 26,708
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #477 #252
Religious Affiliation Churches of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harding.edu ku.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harding University KU
Tuition (In State) $22,500 $10,092
Tuition (Out of State) $22,500 $26,960
Room & Board $7,984 $10,136
Avg Net Price $19,558 $18,950
Avg Grant Aid $14,682 $11,140
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 87%

Admission

Harding University KU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,254 16,204
Admitted 1,017 14,234
Acceptance Rate 45.1% 87.8%
Enrolled % 78.9% 31.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.71 3.66
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/28 21/28
SAT Range 1040/1300 1090/1340
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2024

Academics

Harding University KU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (19%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Harding University KU
Graduation Rate 63% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $54,600
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $20,500
Median Loan Payment $279 $211

Diversity

Harding University KU
% Men 42% 45%
% Women 58% 55%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 72%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 6% 6%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Harding University KU
% In-State 28% 58%
% Out-of-State 68% 39%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Kansas is larger than than Harding University based on total student enrollment (26,708 students vs. 4,805 students)

Harding University vs. KU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harding University or KU?

  • Harding University is 122.9% more expensive to attend than KU for in-state tuition ($22,500.00 vs. $10,092.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.8% higher at KU than Harding University ($26,960.00 vs. $22,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Kansas than Harding University ($18,950 vs. $19,558)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 27% lower than costs at University of Kansas ($7,984 vs. $10,136)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Harding University than University of Kansas (97% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harding University students is 31.8% larger than aid received University of Kansas ($14,682 vs. $11,140)

Harding University vs. KU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Kansas (1145) is 10 points higher than at Harding University (1135)
  • Incoming Harding University students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at KU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Harding University students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at KU (3.66)
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Harding University (45.1%)

Harding University vs. KU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Harding University is higher than University of Kansas (63% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from University of Kansas earn on average $9,800 more per year than Harding University graduates after ten years. ($54,600 vs. $44,800)
  • University of Kansas students graduate with a $6,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($20,500 vs. $27,000)
  • KU graduates are paying $68 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($211 vs. $279)
  • More Harding University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 66%)

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