Harding University
Searcy, Arkansas · Private · 3,382 undergraduates · harding.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test required
Send an SAT or ACT score
Admit rate
71%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1050 to 1290
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$46,400Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Harding University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
71% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$46,400
a year in 2027-28, from a $46,400 sticker price
What to do with your 1170
Send your score
This college requires an SAT or ACT score.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test required
You must send an SAT or ACT score.
- Send official score reports when you apply.
- CLT accepted in addition to ACT and SAT
Source: Undergraduate Admissions Process | How to Apply | Harding · Checked October 17, 2026
Who gets in
71%
of applicants are admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 1050 to 1290
Reading and Writing 530 to 660
Math 520 to 630
ACT composite 20 to 29
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$46,400
a year
- Tuition$30,730
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$17,711
- $30,001 to $48,000$24,811
- $48,001 to $75,000$25,119
- $75,001 to $110,000$25,661
- Over $110,000$26,220
Financial aidEstimate
80%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
98%
of freshmen receive grants
$16,763
average grant to freshmen
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
National Merit Finalist
$2,000 a year
National Merit
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC. To keep it: a 3.25 college GPA, and live in campus housing.
DetailsNational Merit Semifinalist
National Merit
Full undergraduate tuition
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC. To keep it: a 3.25 college GPA, and live in campus housing.
Details
Arkansas programs for residents
Arkansas Governor's Distinguished Scholarship
$10,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.50+ GPA, 1410+ SAT or 32+ ACT, Single tier; Graduating HS senior; FAFSA; apply by March 1; 12 hrs first semester then 15/semester at one institution
Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship (traditional students)
$2,000 to $5,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- 3.00+ GPA, Pathway: HS GPA 3.00 or higher (test score on record, no minimum); Standardized test score (ACT, SAT, Accuplacer or equivalent) on record; FAFSA; apply by July 1; full-time enrollment
- 990+ SAT or 19+ ACT, Pathway: HS GPA below 3.00 with qualifying test score; FAFSA; apply by July 1; enroll full-time (12 hrs first fall, 15/semester after)
Arkansas Governor's Scholars Program (Achievement)
$5,000 a year
State program · In-state students
- Pathway: highest-scoring student in county (ACT/SAT + GPA + class rank); Top-scoring eligible student in county by ACT or SAT score, cumulative GPA and class rank; must apply for Academic Challenge to be considered; FAFSA; deadline July 1, an application, essay or interview
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
33 of 33
Earn credit with a score of 3
24 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $3,070Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 2400 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 3 | ART 2050 |
| Art History | 3 | 3 | ART 1010 |
| Biology | 4 | 3 | BIOL 1100 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MATH 2350 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 8 | MATH 2350 and MATH 3300 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CHEM 1010/1010L |
| Chemistry | 4 | 4 | CHEM 1040/1040L |
| Chemistry | 5 | 8 | CHEM 1040/1040L and CHEM 1050/1050L |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 5 | COMP 1700 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 3 | COMP 1010 |
| Drawing | 3 | 3 | Approved by portfolio review and may be used for ART 1030, ART 1050, ART 1060, or ART 2400-2403 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | ENG 1110 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENG 1110 |
| English Language and Composition | 5 | 6 | ENG 1110 and ENG 2110 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | ENG 2020 |
| English Literature and Composition | 5 | 6 | ENG 1110 and ENG 2020 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | BIOL 3120 |
| European History | 4 | 3 | HIST 2110 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | FR 1010 and FR 1020 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | FR 1010 and FR 1020 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 14 | FR 1010 and FR 1020 and FR 2010 and FR 2020 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | GER 1010 and GER 1020 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | GER 1010 and GER 1020 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 14 | GER 1010 and GER 1020 and GER 2010 and GER 2020 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | SOC 2030 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | ITAL 1010 and ITAL 1020 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | ITAL 1010 and ITAL 1020 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 14 | ITAL 1010 and ITAL 1020 and ITAL 2010 and ITAL 2020 |
| Latin | 3 | 8 | LAT 1010 and LAT 1020 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 2010 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 2020 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 4 | MUS 1710 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 3 | PHS 1060 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 2010 and PHYS 2010L |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 3 | PHS 1060 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 4 | PHYS 2020 and PHYS 2020L |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | PHS 1060, or PHYS 2020 and PHYS 2020L (consult major requirements) |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | PHS 1060, or PHYS 2010 and PHYS 2010L (consult major requirements) |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSY 2010 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | SPAN 1010 and SPAN 1020 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 8 | SPAN 1010 and SPAN 1020 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 14 | SPAN 1010 and SPAN 1020 and SPAN 2010 and SPAN 2020 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 3 | SPAN 2710 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | MATH 1200 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 3 | POLS 1787 |
| United States History | 4 | 3 | HIST 1010 or HIST 1020 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 3 | HIST 1XXX - History Elective |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
71%
Come back for a second year
86%
Typical earnings
$56,146
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Harding University$43,177
- All colleges$48,512
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 23 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Harding University. The Harding University logo is a trademark of the college.