September 11, 2009

Harding University has record enrollment for 23rd year

SEARCY, Ark. – Harding University posted a record enrollment for the
23rd consecutive year. With a student body of 6,613, the University
has surpassed last year’s record of 6,510 students, an increase of 1.6
percent. Harding continues to be the largest private school in the
state.

Fueled by an 8.3 percent growth in graduate enrollment, the figure is
also bolstered by a retention rate of 82 percent. The University also
set a record in applications received with 2,273, a nearly four
percent increase over last year.

“The unwavering commitment of the Harding community to our mission
continues to bring in new students and ensures that existing students
return year after year. Having a record enrollment for the 23rd year
in a row is a positive reflection on the University, especially in
this economic climate,” says Dr. David B. Burks, president of Harding.

Undergraduate enrollment is 4,098, with 1,143 of those being new
students. The number is slightly down from last year’s 4,188
undergraduate students. The student body represents all 50 states and
49 foreign countries. Harding expects to again be one of the top
schools in the country and among private schools in Arkansas in the
enrollment of National Merit Finalists, with 11 new freshman finalists
bringing the total number on campus to 47.

The total number of graduate students grew to 2,515 from last year’s
2,322 students. The College of Pharmacy, now in its second year, added
a new cohort of 59 students. Other programs experiencing an increase
were communication sciences and disorders and business.

“Harding must be one of only a handful of private universities
experiencing record-setting enrollment growth for 23 consecutive
years,” says Dr. James W. Carr, executive vice president. “Students
receive a world class, Christ-centered education at Harding at a cost
not much higher than some public institutions. In spite of troubled
economic times, we are still experiencing growth, and applications for
fall 2010 have already surpassed the number received this time last
year.”

The University made numerous efforts to keep the Harding experience
affordable in the face of a national economic downturn. The tuition
increase this year was the lowest in 22 years at only three percent,
and the introduction of a new freshman grant awarded up to $7,000 per
first-year student based on financial need.

In addition, for more than 20 years Harding has allowed families to
provide documentation of current year income, rather than the previous
year’s, for the purpose of increasing aid eligibility, a practice that
ensures those students whose parents may have lost their job or
experienced a severe pay cut over the past year can still attend
classes. The University has awarded more than $300,000 in need-based
grants this fall, and students have also received approximately $2
million in federal, state and other external need-based grants.
Harding expects to distribute more than $11 million in scholarships
this year.

Harding is recognized by Peterson’s Competitive Colleges and was
ranked for the 16th consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report as
one of the South’s best universities in the magazine’s annual
America’s Best Colleges issue. The University is also recognized
annually by Princeton Review as one of the best universities in the
Southeast.