Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Harding University #1222 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,331 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Harding University in the 8.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Harding University #1206 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Azimuth ranks Harding University #1222 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting broad strengths across access, mobility, and affordability. Graduates earn about $17,331 less than similar students at comparable institutions, a pattern that contributes to the institution's strong return ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Harding University #1222 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private doctoral/professional university in Searcy, Arkansas, Harding University enrolls roughly 3,382 undergraduates. Retention stands at 86.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 68.8%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a faith-based institution serving a regional student population. Where Harding University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Harding University #1206 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $53,024, and Harding University sits in the 8.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio, anchored in business and professional fields, channels students into career pathways that deliver solid financial outcomes relative to comparable private institutions. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Harding University enrolls 23.8% Pell-eligible students and 20.5% first-generation undergraduates — figures that reflect the institution's regional draw and faith-based mission rather than a broad low-income recruitment focus. Azimuth ranks Harding University in the 42.7 percentile for access and the 32.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For families evaluating Harding University, the value proposition centers on the strength of return on investment and the institution's track record of moving graduates into stable, moderately well-paying careers within the region and beyond.
Harding University's published cost of attendance is $39,534. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $15,418, middle-income families pay around $19,832, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,284. Azimuth ranks Harding University #962 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Harding University's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional programs. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages. The institution participates in standard federal aid programs and works with families to bridge the gap between published cost and net price through a combination of grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $27,785; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $53,024, median federal debt of $26,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $299 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Harding University is a strong fit for students interested in business and related fields who seek a private nonprofit university experience in AR. Its program mix is concentrated in Business, representing 18% of graduates. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $53,024, placing Harding University in the 12.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,331 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 8.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 23.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 20.5% are first-generation. The 61.5% Pell completion rate shows these students graduate at rates comparable to peers. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 70.5% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business and related fields. Students whose interests align with these areas will find strong outcomes relative to AR's no-degree baseline of $30,748.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Harding University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grace College And Theological Seminary Similar quality tier (#33865 ranked) | IN | 82% | $45,411 | #33865 | Compare |
Florida Memorial University Similar quality tier (#33859 ranked) | FL | 85% | $36,624 | #33859 | Compare |
Catawba College Similar quality tier (#33867 ranked) | NC | 75% | $48,793 | #33867 | Compare |
Edp University Of Puerto Rico Inc-San Juan Similar quality tier (#33869 ranked) | PR | 61% | $22,844 | #33869 | Compare |
Methodist University Similar quality tier (#33870 ranked) | NC | 75% | $48,050 | #33870 | Compare |
Computer Science
30 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
33 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
16 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
46 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
28 graduates
Harding University's program mix is anchored in business, education, and health-related fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a private Christian university with a focus on applied professional preparation. Teacher Education is the largest program with 69 graduates, followed by Nursing with 46 graduates, Business Administration with 40 graduates, Psychology, General with 39 graduates, and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication with 36 graduates.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 762 students annually, the institution's earnings profile reflects solid outcomes in applied business and professional fields. The strongest four-year earnings outcomes cluster in business and professional specializations.
Computer Science leads with median earnings of $92,014 four years after enrollment from 30 graduates, followed by Accounting with $80,311 from 33 graduates and Nursing with $71,872 from 46 graduates. Finance graduates earn $71,203, and Business Administration achieves $62,025.
This concentration in higher-earning programs reflects Harding University's emphasis on business, accounting, and health professions—fields where employers recruit actively and early-career outcomes are relatively predictable. The program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market entry.
Business and accounting programs represent the institution's largest earnings drivers, with graduates entering stable professional roles in finance, management, and corporate settings. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Harding University's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand in the professional services and health sectors.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Harding University's published cost of attendance is $39,534. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $15,418, middle-income families pay around $19,832, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,284.
Azimuth ranks Harding University #962 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Harding University's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional programs. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages.
The institution participates in standard federal aid programs and works with families to bridge the gap between published cost and net price through a combination of grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $27,785; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $53,024, median federal debt of $26,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $299 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Harding University earn median 4-year earnings of $53,024, placing Harding University in the 12.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,331 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Harding University in the 8.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Harding University #1206 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern centers on business and professional fields that dominate Harding University's degree output.
Teacher Education is the largest program with 69 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $41,228, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Nursing program graduates 46 students earning median 4-year earnings of $71,872, while Business Administration delivers median 4-year earnings of $62,025 across 40 graduates.
Psychology, General and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication round out the top programs, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $45,814 and $51,434 respectively. This concentration in Business — the institution's signature strength — helps explain the consistent earnings outcomes across Harding University's graduate cohort.
