Arkansas State University vs Harding University
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Arkansas State University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Harding University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Arkansas State University at $27,823 vs Harding University at $25,651. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $56,400 vs $57,600.
| Metric | Arkansas State University | Harding University |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Public | Private |
| State | Ar | Ar |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $27,823 | $25,651* |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $56,400 | $57,600* |
| Majors Tracked | 20 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Mechanical Engineering (84/100) | Computer Science (95/100)* |
| Best Major Debt | $23,474 | $21,913* |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $92,000 | $95,000* |
Arkansas State University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Harding University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Arkansas State University at $27,823 vs Harding University at $25,651. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $56,400 vs $57,600.
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Arkansas State University and Harding University graduate students at similar rates — 100.0% and 100.0% respectively. With completion rates comparable, the comparison reduces to cost, earnings, and program mix; the institutional-effect-on-completion question essentially nets out.
Average median debt is roughly even across Arkansas State University and Harding University. The cost side of the comparison effectively cancels out; the meaningful question becomes whether the program mix and the earnings outcomes differ enough to break the tie.
Earnings outcomes track closely — Arkansas State University and Harding University graduates report similar first-year wages. The school decision in cases like this is usually decided on non-financial axes (program quality, geography, fit) since the ROI math runs close enough to be inside the noise.
Both schools sit in Ar, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.