Harding University vs University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (UAFS)

Harding University and University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to prospective students. Harding University, a private Christian university, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a smaller student body, fostering a close-knit community. In contrast, the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, a public university, offers a more diverse student body and a higher acceptance rate, providing a vibrant and inclusive learning environment. Both universities excel in different areas, with Harding University excelling in nursing and education programs, while the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith shines in engineering and business programs. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these universities, including their graduation rates, popular majors, and additional factors that may influence your decision.
Harding University logo

Harding University

University of Arkansas-Fort Smith logo

University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

Overview

Location Searcy, Arkansas Fort Smith, Arkansas
Campus setting Town: Distant City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 84.0% 67.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation Churches of Christ

Admission

Acceptance rate 54.1% 55.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $45
$50
SAT range 1050 - 1300 N/A
ACT range 20 - 28 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 23.0%
Students submitting ACT score 80.0%
Total number of applicants 2,200 3,571
Total number of admissions given out 1,191 1,993
Admitted students who chose to enroll 748 1,084
Yield rate 62.8% 54.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A
High school GPA Not required N/A
Recommendation letters Required N/A
High school transcript Not required N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $34,538
In state: $23,548

Out of state: $30,820
Average net price $20,533 $9,663
Tuition $21,690
In state: $4,104

Out of state: $11,376
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,068

Meal plan: $4,658
Room/dormitory: $5,390

Meal plan: $3,700
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Guaranteed tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

97.0%
Average amount $12,769
97.0%
Average amount $8,604
Students receiving federal student loan 45.0%
Average amount $5,607
33.0%
Average amount $4,692
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $12,585
2.0%
Average amount $8,042

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,684
Men 43.8% Women 56.2%
5,403
Men 41.1% Women 58.9%
Graduate students 1,289
Men 34.0% Women 66.0%
44
Men 20.5% Women 79.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 6.2% 1.2%
Campus local/setting Town: Distant City: Small
Dormitory capacity 2,867 940
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Precision Production
  • Liberal Arts
  • Automotive Technology
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 67.2% 26.3%
Dropout rate 31.7% 57.4%
Transferred out N/A 13.8%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $117,748
  • Year 2: $124,539
  • Year 3: $127,639
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,011
  • Year 2: $106,978
  • Year 3: $105,028
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,933
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $88,179
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,415
  • Year 2: $68,618
  • Year 3: $71,365
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,335
  • Year 2: $66,104
  • Year 3: $69,942
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,533
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $67,054
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,156
  • Year 2: $52,733
  • Year 3: $65,082
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,219
  • Year 2: $57,047
  • Year 3: $64,125
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,088
  • Year 2: $58,221
  • Year 3: $62,592
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,124
  • Year 2: $52,941
  • Year 3: $60,778
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,923
  • Year 2: $61,218
  • Year 3: $62,803
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,394
  • Year 2: $61,681
  • Year 3: $59,673
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,470
  • Year 2: $51,392
  • Year 3: $51,551
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,569
  • Year 3: $43,001
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $41,202
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,587
  • Year 2: $32,071
  • Year 3: $37,742
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,076
  • Year 2: $35,274
  • Year 3: $36,641
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,492
  • Year 2: $35,416
  • Year 3: $36,412
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,945
  • Year 2: $31,853
  • Year 3: $33,768
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,418
  • Year 2: $32,678
  • Year 3: $33,668

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