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Conway, AR · Searcy, AR
| University of Central Arkansas | Harding University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $16,511/yr | $22,130/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $14,656/yr | $15,418/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $20,346 | $26,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $13,988/yr | $17,430/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $16,203/yr | $19,832/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $20,318/yr | $22,017/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $20,157/yr | $26,284/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $216/mo | $281/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $9,110/yr | $9,060/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $8,697/yr | $9,548/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,216/yr | $598/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $6,991/yr | $4,066/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $25,029/yr | $39,534/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,523/yr | $26,262/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $18,023/yr | $26,262/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 38% | 24% |
| Students taking federal loans | 40% | 44% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 89% | 71% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 910–1170 | 1050–1290 |
| SAT average | 1118 | 1182 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 19–25 | 20–29 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 18–26 · Math 17–24 | English 20–31 · Math 18–26 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 6,589 | 2,202 |
| Students accepted | 5,961 | 2,202 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,737 | 864 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 29% | 39% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 4% | 18% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 94% | 94% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| High-school transcript | Not considered | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Required |
| Class rank | Not considered | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 54% | 69% |
| Freshmen who come back | 73% | 86% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $45,938/yr | $52,876/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $28,642–$65,378 | $34,804–$76,562 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 51% | 69% |
| White students graduating | 58% | 72% |
| Black students graduating | 36% | 61% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 44% | 35% |
| Asian students graduating | 71% | 70% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $36,670/yr | $43,555/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 68% | 71% |
| Graduate on time | 42% | 52% |
| Pell students who graduate | 42% | 57% |
| First-gen students who finish | 38% | 55% |
| Low-income students who finish | 33% | 49% |
| Students who transfer out | 25% | 21% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $42,426/yr | $48,980/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 20% · Health Professions 17% · Psychology 8% | Health Professions 17% · Business, Management & Marketing 15% · Education 13% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 20% of degrees | Health Professions — 17% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Health Professions — 17% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 15% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Psychology — 8% of degrees | Education — 13% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Education — 8% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 6% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 6% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $70,636/yr | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $105,625/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 13% | 15% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 7,762 | 3,382 |
| Students per professor | 15 : 1 | 13 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,844 | 1,160 |
| Average professor pay | $7,499/mo | $8,008/mo |
| Full-time professors | 76% | 66% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $37,082 | $71,055 |
| Setting | City (small) | Town (distant) |
| Location | Conway, AR | Searcy, AR |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1907 | 1924 |
| Public or private | Public | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral/Professional Universities | Doctoral/Professional Universities |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 3.1% | 5% |
| Men | 38% | 46% |
| Women | 62% | 54% |
| White students | 64% | 80% |
| Black students | 17% | 4.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 8.8% | 4.8% |
| Asian students | 2.1% | 1.2% |
| Two or more races | 5.2% | 4% |
| Other / not reported | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Special type | None | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 35% | 21% |
| Part-time students | 11% | 5.2% |
| Students age 25+ | 8.1% | 5.3% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $9,836/yr | $11,670/yr |
| Endowment | $76.4M | $217.3M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 3,435 | 2,687 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $4,724/yr | $4,460/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $3,938/yr | $5,256/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 21 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | No data reported | Churches of Christ |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| 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 | No | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | Yes |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FCS | NCAA Division II with football |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 15 | 14 |
| Student athletes | 524 | 445 |
| Athletic scholarships | $5.7M | $4.4M |
| Athletics budget | $17.7M | $11.0M |
| Athletics revenue | $17.7M | $11.0M |
| Recruiting spend | $308,749 | $78,090 |
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, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.