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Harding University

Harding University

Overview

Harding University was founded in 1924 as Harding College upon the merger of two junior colleges, Arkansas Christian College and Harper College. The University is located in Searcy, Arkansas; a community situated about 50 miles northeast of Little Rock. Harding boasts a prestigious Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program, which has utilized online classes from the beginning of the program in 1998 and which now can be earned completely online. The school's online MBA program is an excellent choice for professionals seeking an academically superior educational experience at a much lower cost than many other online MBA programs.

Points of Distinction

  • Flexible and convenient
  • Lower cost than most other online MBA programs
  • MBA degree can be earned completely online
  • Accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Areas of Study

Harding's Online Programs include a general Master of Business Administration (MBA), as well as MBA's in the following fields:

  • Accounting
  • Healthcare Management
  • International Business
  • Information Technology
  • Leadership and Organizational Management

Admissions

Entrance into the masters-level graduate business program at Harding University is selective. However, the University makes decisions for enrollment based on academic records and work history, and thus no GMAT is required for admission. The application process can be initiated online with the creation of a new student login account.

Faculty

Harding boasts a spirited faculty comprised of 220 full-time members, 62% of whom hold a Ph.D. or professional degree. Instructors are highly knowledgeable in their field.

Student Body

Online MBA students are highly motivated individuals, most of them business professionals, seeking a curriculum that matches their life goals and career aspirations. The total university student population is in excess of 6,000 students representing 49 states and over 50 foreign countries.

Student Life

Harding’s Searcy campus has 45 buildings sitting on 275 acres. The online learning environment provides exposure to different cultures and business practices through class participation with international students and increased opportunities for networking among MBA students. Online classes are facilitated through use of WebCT, a software tool which allows students to manage each of their online classes, including assignments, discussions, tests, and presentations.

Offers MBA degrees in many different fields. Degrees are offered online. MBA degrees offered online.

Overview of Harding University

Searcy, AR is home to Harding. Searcy is a town not particularly near any major cities. Students select the school partly because it is a Churches of Christ school. Harding is a private, not-for-profit institution. Degrees at the school go up to the Doctoral degree.

Areas of Study

Students at Harding can choose among many degree programs. Students commonly pursue studies in education and teaching.

Harding Selectivity

Prospective students are advised that admissions are not open to all; the school selects from among qualified applicants. Three quarters of students in 2007-2008 had SAT verbal scores of at least 500. Half of math SAT scores of accepted students fell between 500 and 640.

Student Body

Harding has 6,139 enrolled students (as of 2007-2008).

Student Life

The school has a residential or campus feel. Harding offers dorm rooms to a higher percentage of its students than do most colleges. The school offers students meal plans. Harding values student athletics, and belongs to the Gulf South Conference.

More complete details are provided below.

Contacting Harding

Harding University
915 E. Market Ave.
Searcy, AR 72143
General Phone: (501) 279-4000
http://www.harding.edu

Harding Programs and Degrees (2008-2009)

General CategoryDegreesMost Common Majors [see all]
Education and Teaching362education, early childhood education, teacher ed, school counseling, middle school teaching, secondary teaching, English teaching, educational administration, ...
Business and Management245business management, accounting, marketing, business, fashion merchandising, sales and marketing, human resources, business communications, ...
Liberal Arts123general studies, English, Spanish language, history, French language, humanities, economics, social services, ...
Religion and Philosophy72bible studies, youth ministry, ministry, pastoral counseling, missionary studies, theology
Nutrition and Exercise Therapy47exercise science, dietitian, sports and fitness management, athletic trainer
Nursing and Emergency Medicine42registered nursing
Computer Science and Engineering38computer science, information technology, computer engineering, computer and info science
Family and Social Work38social work, human development and family studies, family and consumer science, public administration
Therapy and Counseling35psychology, marriage and family therapy, art therapy
Media35public relations, digital communications, communication studies, journalism, broadcast journalism, advertising
Science28biology, biochem/biophysics/molecular biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics
Medical Support and Technology26speech pathology, clinical lab tech
Design18interior design, graphic design
Medical Administration12health care administration
Drama and Performing Arts9drama
Fine Arts7fine arts
Security and Law Enforcement6criminal justice and safety, corrections and criminal justice
Engineering6electrical engineering, mechanical engineering
Mathematics5mathematics
Music4music

Number of programs and degrees for Harding in 2008-2009:

Degree LevelTotal
Awarded
Number of
Programs
Bachelor's degree78774
Master's degree3519
First-professional degree101
Post-master's certificate81
Doctor's degree21

Harding Student Body

In 2007-2008, Harding had a total enrollment of 6,139 students (5,059 full-time equivalent).

Students in the Freshman Class:

GroupPercent
Men45%
Women55%
Full-Time99%
Part-Time1%

Students By Class:

GroupPercent
Undergraduate65%
Graduate35%

Racial Diversity:
RacePercent
White85%
Black6%
Hispanic2%
Asian1%
American Indian1%
Unknown1%
(Foreign Students)4%

Students by Age:

AgePercent
Under 181%
18-1927%
20-2126%
22-2414%
25-298%
30-345%
35-396%
40-498%
50-645%
65+0%

Incoming (Freshman) Students by Place of Residence:
(From available data sampling)

ResidencePercent
Arkansas24%
Texas19%
Tennessee7%
Missouri5%
(International Students)4%
Florida4%
Alabama3%
Oklahoma3%
Illinois3%
Ohio3%
Georgia2%
Colorado2%
Indiana2%
Louisiana1%
North Carolina1%
Virginia1%
Michigan1%
Washington1%
Minnesota1%
Pennsylvania1%
California1%
Kentucky1%
Mississippi1%
Maryland1%
Oregon1%
Kansas1%
Nebraska1%
New York1%
Arizona1%
New Jersey1%
South Carolina1%
New Mexico1%

Harding Graduation, Retention, and Transfers

Retention Rates (2007):

GroupReturning From
Previous Year
Full-Time80 %
Part-Time43 %

Harding Room and Board (2007)

Harding offers campus housing for 3,428 of its 5,059 (full-time) students. Freshmen are required to live on campus.

(Please refer to our profile of Searcy, Arkansas for details about the area surrounding the campus. Also see our list of other Arkansas Colleges).

The school offers students a meal plan with 21 meals per week.

Harding Admissions and Selectivity

Acceptances:

GroupApplicantsAcceptedPercent
Accepted
EnrolledPercent of
Accepted Enrolled
Total1,8741,38274%98671%
Men84062074%44572%
Women1,03476274%54171%

Standardized Test Scores:

Test25th Percentile75th Percetile
SAT Verbal500640
SAT Math500640
ACT Verbal2129
ACT Math2027
ACT Composite2228

Application Requirements:

ItemRequirement
GPArecommended
Class Rankrecommended
High School Recordrecommended
College Prep Programrecommended
Recommendationsrequired
Formal Demonstration of Competencenot required
Standardized Tests (SAT and/or ACT)required
Percent of Applicants Submitting SAT40%
Percent of Applicants Submitting ACT83%
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)required

Harding Expenses and Financial Aid (2008-2009)

Expenses and Financial Aid:

ExpenseAmount
In-state tuition and fees$ 13,130
Out-of-state tuition and fees$ 13,130
Room and board$ 5,700
Room charge$ 2,824
Board (meal plan) charge$ 3,278
Books and supplies$ 900
Other expenses$ 2,470

Financial Aid:
Harding participates in Federal Title IV financial aid programs. (The school's OPE ID is 109700)

Harding Faculty

Salaries for full-time faculty:

Full-Time Faculty (2008-2009):

Full-Time Faculty LevelContract LengthNumber MenAvg Salary MenNumber WomenAvg Salary Women
Professorcalendar year1*1*
Associate professorcalendar year4$73,0741*
Assistant professorcalendar year3$75,9173$86,992
Instructorcalendar year1*1*
All faculty totalcalendar year9$70,7876$84,207

*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.

Full-Time Faculty (2008-2009):

Full-Time Faculty LevelContract LengthNumber MenAvg Salary MenNumber WomenAvg Salary Women
Professoracademic year65$69,53111$64,930
Associate professoracademic year44$60,46814$56,632
Assistant professoracademic year41$51,13528$47,778
Instructoracademic year13$43,73420$40,187
All faculty totalacademic year163$60,40073$49,981

*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.

Harding Athletics

Athletic Conferences:

SportConference
FootballGulf South Conference
BasketballGulf South Conference
BaseballGulf South Conference
TrackGulf South Conference

Students on Athletic Scholarships (2007):

SportMenWomenTotal
Total14563208
Football67067
Track141125
Baseball24024
Basketball13922
All Other Sports274370

Harding Degree Programs (2007)

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Accounting
Business Administration and Management, General
Business/Commerce, General
Business/Corporate Communications
Fashion Merchandising
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General
International Business/Trade/Commerce
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Computer Engineering, General
Computer Science
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Information Technology

DESIGN
Graphic Design
Interior Design

DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General

EDUCATION AND TEACHING
Art Teacher Education
Biology Teacher Education
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
Early Childhood Education and Teaching
Education, General
Educational Leadership and Administration, General
English/Language Arts Teacher Education
Family and Consumer Sciences/Home Economics Teacher Education
Health Teacher Education
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
Mathematics Teacher Education
Music Teacher Education
Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
Secondary Education and Teaching
Social Studies Teacher Education
Spanish Language Teacher Education
Teacher Education, Multiple Levels

ENGINEERING
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services, Other
Public Administration
Social Work

FINE ARTS
Fine/Studio Arts, General

LIBERAL ARTS
Economics, General
English Language and Literature, General
French Language and Literature
General Studies
History, General
Humanities/Humanistic Studies
International/Global Studies
Political Science and Government, General
Social Sciences, General
Spanish Language and Literature

MATHEMATICS
Mathematics, General

MEDIA
Advertising
Broadcast Journalism
Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia
Journalism
Public Relations/Image Management

MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION
Health/Health Care Administration/Management

MEDICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist
Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist

MUSIC
Music, General

NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)

NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY
Athletic Training/Trainer
Dietetics/Dietitian (RD)
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management

RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Bible/Biblical Studies
Divinity/Ministry (BD, MDiv)
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
Pastoral Studies/Counseling
Theology/Theological Studies
Youth Ministry

SCIENCE
Biochemistry
Biochemistry/Biophysics and Molecular Biology
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Chemistry, General
Physics, General

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies

THERAPY AND COUNSELING
Art Therapy/Therapist
Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling
Psychology, General

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Harding Highlights

(Details are provided further down on this page.)

What Sets Harding Apart:

CategoryTrophy 
Number of degree programs
(vs. all colleges)
Top 7%Harding Number of degree programs
Dorm rooms per full-time student
(vs. all colleges)
Top 8%Harding Dorm rooms per full-time student
% of degrees in education and teaching
(vs. all colleges)
Top 9%Harding % of degrees in education and teaching
% of degrees in religion and philosophy
(vs. colleges of similar size)
Top 13%Harding % of degrees in religion and philosophy
Number of students
(vs. all colleges)
Top 13%Harding Number of students
% of accepted students who choose to enroll
(vs. colleges with similar degree levels)
Top 17%Harding % of accepted students who choose to enroll
Explanation of the Highlights categories

Notable:
Churches of Christ affiliation
Accepts some high school credits
Grants credits for AP courses
Offers distance learning
Offers weekend classes
Career counseling
Career services
Student employment services
Remedial classes for students
Option to study abroad
Offers part-time study
On-campus library
Offers campus housing
Offers a board (meal) plan
Offers athletic scholarships
NCAA athletic conference member

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