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Searcy, AR · Magnolia, AR
| Harding University | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $22,130/yr | $14,027/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $15,418/yr | $13,187/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $26,500 | $18,750 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $17,430/yr | $12,827/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $19,832/yr | $13,790/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $22,017/yr | $15,654/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $26,284/yr | $19,244/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $281/mo | $199/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $9,060/yr | $7,911/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $9,548/yr | $7,911/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $598/yr | $1,600/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $4,066/yr | $6,682/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $39,534/yr | $24,951/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $26,262/yr | $9,960/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $26,262/yr | $15,690/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 24% | 48% |
| Students taking federal loans | 44% | 63% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 71% | 75% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1050–1290 | 875–1105 |
| SAT average | 1182 | 1047 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 20–29 | 17–24 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 20–31 · Math 18–26 | English 16–23 · Math 16–22 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 2,202 | 2,936 |
| Students accepted | 2,202 | 1,955 |
| Students who enrolled | 864 | 797 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 39% | 41% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 18% | 7% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 94% | 100% |
| High-school GPA | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Not considered |
| Class rank | Not considered | Required |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Required | Required |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 69% | 49% |
| Freshmen who come back | 86% | 66% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $52,876/yr | $42,386/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $34,804–$76,562 | $25,370–$61,851 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 69% | 46% |
| White students graduating | 72% | 53% |
| Black students graduating | 61% | 37% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 35% | 42% |
| Asian students graduating | 70% | 78% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $43,555/yr | $37,008/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 71% | 65% |
| Graduate on time | 52% | 34% |
| Pell students who graduate | 57% | 41% |
| First-gen students who finish | 55% | 40% |
| Low-income students who finish | 49% | 34% |
| Students who transfer out | 21% | 28% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $48,980/yr | $40,383/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Health Professions 17% · Business, Management & Marketing 15% · Education 13% | Liberal Arts & General Studies 31% · Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Education 14% |
| Most popular program | Health Professions — 17% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 31% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 15% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Education — 13% of degrees | Education — 14% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 6% of degrees | Health Professions — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 6% of degrees | Agriculture & Veterinary Science — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $105,625/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $67,213/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 15% | 9.7% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 3,382 | 2,708 |
| Students per professor | 13 : 1 | 16 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,160 | 1,648 |
| Average professor pay | $8,008/mo | $7,469/mo |
| Full-time professors | 66% | 61% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $71,055 | $29,946 |
| Setting | Town (distant) | Town (remote) |
| Location | Searcy, AR | Magnolia, AR |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1924 | 1909 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral/Professional Universities | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 5% | 1.4% |
| Men | 46% | 42% |
| Women | 54% | 58% |
| White students | 80% | 63% |
| Black students | 4.6% | 23% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 4.8% | 5.8% |
| Asian students | 1.2% | 0.6% |
| Two or more races | 4% | 5.4% |
| Other / not reported | 0.6% | 1% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | None |
| First-generation students | 21% | 42% |
| Part-time students | 5.2% | 4.4% |
| Students age 25+ | 5.3% | 7.7% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $11,670/yr | $6,019/yr |
| Endowment | $217.3M | $63.2M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,687 | 2,141 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $4,460/yr | $4,384/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,256/yr | $3,760/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 21 meals/week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Churches of Christ | No data reported |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | No |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | No |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | Yes | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II with football | NCAA Division II with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 14 | 14 |
| Student athletes | 445 | 465 |
| Athletic scholarships | $4.4M | $2.0M |
| Athletics budget | $11.0M | $6.7M |
| Athletics revenue | $11.0M | $6.7M |
| Recruiting spend | $78,090 | $22,232 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.