- Acceptance rate: 71% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 530–660 reading and writing, 520–630 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 20–29 composite
- Average net price: $21,069 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Harding University reported: an acceptance rate of 71% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 20–29.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Harding University reviews each application.
Harding University GPA requirements
Harding University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Harding University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Harding University acceptance rate
Harding University admitted 1,914 of 2,714 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 71%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Harding University is a private nonprofit 4-year university in Searcy, Arkansas, with 3,536 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Harding University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 530 | 590 | 660 |
| SAT Math | 520 | 560 | 630 |
| ACT Composite | 20 | 24 | 29 |
| ACT English | 20 | 24 | 31 |
| ACT Math | 18 | 23 | 26 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1182 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Harding University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Harding University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $21,069 a year at Harding University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to get into Harding University?
Moderately selective: more than half of applicants got in. Harding University admitted 71% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
Is Harding University test optional?
Check Harding University's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Harding University required SAT or ACT scores from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 18% sent SAT scores and 75% sent ACT scores.
How much does GPA matter at Harding University?
A lot: Harding University requires high school GPA, high school record, recommendations and test scores. It considers college preparatory program if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, essay or personal statement, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What percent of applicants does Harding University accept?
Harding University's acceptance rate was 71% for fall 2024: it admitted 1,914 of 2,714 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.
Can I get into Harding University with a 3.0 GPA?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Harding University admitted 71% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
What GPA does Harding University look for?
Harding University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
What are Harding University's SAT and ACT score ranges?
The middle 50% of Harding University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 530–660 in reading and writing and 520–630 in math; ACT composite 20–29, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Does Harding University accept AP credit?
Yes. Harding University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does Harding University look at legacy status?
No. Harding University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
How much does Harding University cost after financial aid?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $21,069 a year at Harding University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Before you apply, check Harding University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Harding UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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