“Private Christian liberal arts university in Arkansas, affiliated with the Churches of Christ.”
Harding University is a private Christian liberal arts university in Searcy, Arkansas, roughly an hour northeast of Little Rock. Founded in 1924 and affiliated with the Churches of Christ, Harding is the largest private university in Arkansas, enrolling approximately 4,800 students across 10 colleges that together offer more than 110 undergraduate majors, 14 pre-professional programs, and 40+ graduate and professional degrees. The university is known nationally for its professional programs in nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, and education, and for one of the most extensive undergraduate study-abroad networks among U.S. private universities — Harding operates its own international campuses in Florence (HUF), Greece (HUG), England (HUE), Australia, Chile, and Zambia, and typically sends more than half of its students abroad before graduation. Faith is woven into every part of the Harding experience. All undergraduate students under age 25 taking nine or more credit hours attend daily chapel at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday and enroll in at least one Bible class each semester — a tradition that has run continuously since 1924. Students also agree to a community lifestyle code that prohibits alcohol, tobacco, and drug use on and off campus; the resulting culture is small-town, values-driven, and highly community-oriented. Academically, faculty overwhelmingly cite the personal mentorship they offer undergraduates, a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and the integration of Christian ethics across every discipline from accounting to nursing. Harding's 350-acre Searcy campus features tree-lined quads, a large student center, and modern facilities for the Carr College of Nursing and College of Pharmacy. Athletics (the Harding Bisons) compete at the NCAA Division II level, highlighted by one of the top-ranked Division II football programs in the country. International students — about 220 strong from 60+ countries — join a community that typically punches above its weight in study-abroad participation, missions, and service learning, and the Office of International Student Services provides dedicated immigration advising, airport pickup, and a full-time English as a Second Language (ESL) pathway for students who need to build proficiency before full admission.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Test Flexible — Multiple standardized test types are accepted.
Official SourceInternational — Fall
All supporting materials (transcripts, English proficiency, reference, deposit) due by July 1.
International — Spring
All supporting materials due by November 1.
Domestic — Rolling
Rolling admissions; priority scholarship deadline typically December 1.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$26,262
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Harding's largest and oldest college, home to ~47% of undergraduates across 15 departments and 80+ majors spanning sciences, humanities, and the arts.
Founded in 1975, Carr prepares BSN and MSN nurses with a Christian-servant mission and clinical rotations across Arkansas health systems; Harding's most popular major is RN nursing.
A four-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program with a strong regional reputation; admits from Harding's pre-pharmacy track and external applicants.
Established in 2011 and home to Harding's clinical doctorates in Physical Therapy (DPT) and Occupational Therapy (OTD), plus the Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program.
AACSB-accredited undergraduate and graduate business programs with strong accounting, finance, and professional sales tracks.
Prepares educators, counselors, and school leaders with undergraduate licensure tracks and graduate programs in educational leadership, school counseling, and clinical mental health counseling.
4 years
Harding's flagship undergraduate program — consistently the most popular major on campus with high first-time NCLEX pass rates and early clinical placements through Arkansas health networks.
4 years
A four-year professional pharmacy program known for mission-centered care and placements across community pharmacy, health systems, and international medical missions.
0.5 years
Harding's signature international program: an entire semester lived and studied in the Scarperia villa outside Florence, open to any major, with weekly travel throughout Europe.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $26,262
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
