The average acceptance rate at Harding over the past 10 years is 70.22%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 70.52%. Compared to the previous year, it became much more competitive to gain admission to Harding in 2025. The acceptance rate at Harding is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 61.52%, and the 2025 yield is 44.62%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 32.94% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of Harding applicants increased by 23.25% (512 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 80.57% overall.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 70.52%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that Harding has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 44.62%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at Harding. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
For the 2025 admission cycle, Harding received approximately 2,714 applications, admitted 1,914 students, and enrolled 854 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that Harding is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
Harding 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at Harding over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 70.22%, while the most recent rate stands at 70.52%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 70.52%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 70.72% and for women is 69.90%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at Harding have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 99.20% | 99.40% | 99.05% |
| 2016-17 | 70.18% -29.02% |
70.21% -29.19% |
70.17% -28.88% |
| 2017-18 | 72.12% 1.94% |
71.51% 1.30% |
72.60% 2.43% |
| 2018-19 | 74.62% 2.50% |
76.07% 4.57% |
73.45% 0.85% |
| 2019-20 | 61.34% -13.28% |
62.66% -13.42% |
60.33% -13.12% |
| 2020-21 | 55.07% -6.28% |
55.27% -7.38% |
54.92% -5.41% |
| 2021-22 | 54.00% -1.07% |
55.03% -0.24% |
53.98% -0.94% |
| 2022-23 | 45.12% -8.88% |
45.56% -9.48% |
44.78% -9.20% |
| 2023-24 | 100.00% 54.88% |
100.00% 54.44% |
100.00% 55.22% |
| 2024-25 | 70.52% -29.48% |
71.52% -28.48% |
69.69% -30.31% |
| Average | 70.22% | 70.72% | 69.90% |
Harding has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 66.53% in 2015 to 44.62% in 2025, representing a 32.94% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 61.52%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at Harding from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 32.94% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 66.53% | 69.65% | 64.06% |
| 2016-17 | 65.49% -1.04% |
65.49% -4.16% |
65.49% 1.42% |
| 2017-18 | 64.77% -0.72% |
64.41% -1.08% |
65.05% -0.44% |
| 2018-19 | 59.60% -5.17% |
60.15% -4.26% |
59.13% -5.92% |
| 2019-20 | 71.47% 11.87% |
70.00% 9.85% |
72.64% 13.51% |
| 2020-21 | 61.63% -9.83% |
65.06% -4.94% |
59.24% -13.40% |
| 2021-22 | 62.96% 1.33% |
65.04% -0.02% |
61.99% 2.74% |
| 2022-23 | 78.86% 15.90% |
80.49% 15.45% |
77.58% 15.60% |
| 2023-24 | 39.24% -39.62% |
43.58% -36.91% |
35.84% -41.74% |
| 2024-25 | 44.62% 5.38% |
45.43% 1.85% |
43.88% 8.04% |
| Average | 61.52% | 62.93% | 60.49% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 2,108, the average number of admitted is 1,460, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 863.
The number of Harding applicants increased by 23.25% (512 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 80.57% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at Harding University from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 1,503 | 1,491 | 992 |
| 2016-17 | 2,217 47.50% |
1,556 4.36% |
1,019 2.72% |
| 2017-18 | 2,023 -8.75% |
1,459 -6.23% |
945 -7.26% |
| 2018-19 | 1,927 -4.75% |
1,438 -1.44% |
857 -9.31% |
| 2019-20 | 1,834 -4.83% |
1,125 -21.77% |
804 -6.18% |
| 2020-21 | 2,201 20.01% |
1,212 7.73% |
747 -7.09% |
| 2021-22 | 2,200 -0.05% |
1,188 -1.98% |
748 0.13% |
| 2022-23 | 2,254 2.45% |
1,017 -14.39% |
802 7.22% |
| 2023-24 | 2,202 -2.31% |
2,202 116.52% |
864 7.73% |
| 2024-25 | 2,714 23.25% |
1,914 -13.08% |
854 -1.16% |
| Average | 2,108 | 1,460 | 863 |
The following table compares Harding University' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harding University | 100.00% | 70.52% | -29.48% |
| John Brown University | 76.14% | 67.64% | 12.57% |
| Ouachita Baptist University | 67.52% | 68.52% | -1.46% |
| Hendrix College | 55.65% | 52.98% | 5.04% |
| Arkansas Colleges of Health Education | - | - | - |
| Philander Smith University | - | - | - |
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