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Eastern Murray State University Kentucky Louisville UTC Lipscomb NKU Freed-Hardeman University University of Southern Indiana Middle Tennessee State University Austin Peay State University KSU| Harding University | Western Kentucky University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Harding University | WKU | ||
| Location | Searcy, AR | Bowling Green, KY | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,805 | 16,493 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #477 | #875 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Churches of Christ | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | harding.edu | wku.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Harding University | WKU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $22,500 | $11,112 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $22,500 | $27,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $7,984 | $11,072 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,558 | $12,625 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $14,682 | $10,260 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 99% |
Admission |
Harding University | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,254 | 7,505 | ||
| Admitted | 1,017 | 7,276 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 45.1% | 96.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 78.9% | 37.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.71 | 3.42 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 20/28 | 18/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1040/1300 | 980/1170 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2024 |
Academics |
Harding University | WKU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Harding University | WKU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,800 | $37,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $24,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $250 |
Diversity |
Harding University | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
Harding University | WKU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 28% | 70% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 68% | 29% | ||
Campus |
Harding University | WKU | ||
| 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
- Western Kentucky University is larger than than Harding University based on total student enrollment (16,493 students vs. 4,805 students)
Harding University vs. WKU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Harding University or WKU?
- Harding University is 102.5% more expensive to attend than WKU for in-state tuition ($22,500.00 vs. $11,112.00)
- Out of state tuition is 20% higher at WKU than Harding University ($27,000.00 vs. $22,500.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Kentucky University than Harding University ($12,625 vs. $19,558)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 38.7% lower than costs at Western Kentucky University ($7,984 vs. $11,072)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Kentucky University than Harding University (99% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Harding University students is 43.1% larger than aid received Western Kentucky University ($14,682 vs. $10,260)
Harding University vs. WKU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Harding University or WKU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WKU or Harding University .
- The average SAT score at Harding University (1135) is 88 points higher than at WKU (1047)
- Incoming Harding University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WKU (23)
- Accepted freshman Harding University students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at WKU (3.42)
- WKU has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Harding University (45.1%)
Harding University vs. WKU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Harding University or WKU? 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 WKU and Harding University.
- The graduation rate at Harding University is higher than Western Kentucky University (63% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Harding University earn on average $7,700 more per year than WKU graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $37,100)
- Western Kentucky University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
- WKU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
- More Harding University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WKU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/