Harding University was listed among the Top Ten Schools nationwide by the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education under two different categories in 2017: student engagement and student inspiration. It has been ranked as the second best university in the state of Arkansas, after University of Arkansas, by the USA University College Directory. Harding consistently ranks in the Top 25 for Best Regional Universities in the South according to the "U.S. News & World Report". In 2020, it ranked #249 among national universities overall. It was also rated at B+ by the American rankings and review company Niche.