At $21,031/yr net price, Hardin-Simmons University graduates earn $54,771/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $20,771/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $21,031 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $84,124 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,771/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$20,771/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 4.1 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 49.6% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $24,711 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $14,534/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,981/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,485/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,982/yr |
| $110,001+ | $26,442/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Doctoral | $77,715 | $61,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $66,821 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $54,644 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Bachelor | $41,025 | $25,312 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $41,025 | |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | Master | $41,007 | $22,459 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Bachelor | $38,289 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor | $37,424 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor | $35,701 | $25,625 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor | $33,993 |
The Risk Factor
49.6% of students at Hardin-Simmons University graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Hardin-Simmons gives you a mixed financial outcome that leans mediocre. At $54,771 median earnings ten years out, you're clearing the private-tuition bar but not by much, and the 49.6% graduation rate means roughly half of enrolling students don't finish. That's the biggest number here: a private four-year price with a coin-flip completion rate.
Nursing is the clear win. It's the only bachelor's program on the list breaking into the mid-$60,000s, and Abilene's hospitals give you a local market to land in. If you come here for nursing, the math works.
Everything else is weaker. Accounting, management, and both teacher-education tracks all land in the $37,000-$41,000 range. Teaching pays around $41,000 while carrying about $25,000 in debt, so you'd graduate owing nearly two-thirds of a first-year salary. Texas teacher pay caps your upside, and these programs don't clear the bar that nursing does. If you're not in nursing, question whether the private price tag earns its keep.
The main risk is retention: a 65% first-to-second-year retention rate means about a third of you leave before sophomore year, and leaving with debt and no degree is the worst outcome. Median debt of $24,711 is manageable if you finish and land nursing wages, and punishing if you don't.
On price, the tiers matter. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $14,500 a year. over $110,000, you pay roughly $26,400. Even the discounted low-income price is real money against a coin-flip graduation rate.
This school fits you if you're set on nursing or education and want a smaller Abilene campus. If you're chasing maximum earnings in business or an undecided major, look at cheaper public options first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hardin-Simmons University worth the cost?
Hardin-Simmons University graduates earn a median of $54,771 ten years after graduation, which barely justifies the $21,031 annual net price for most students. With a 49.6% graduation rate, nearly half of students don't finish their degree.
What are the best paying majors at Hardin-Simmons University?
Rehabilitation and therapeutic professions graduates earn $77,715 annually, making it the strongest ROI program at Hardin-Simmons University. Nursing graduates also do well at $66,821, while education and accounting majors earn around $41,025.
How much debt do Hardin-Simmons University students graduate with?
Hardin-Simmons University graduates carry a median debt of $24,711. This debt load is manageable for rehabilitation and nursing graduates but creates financial strain for education and business majors earning in the low $40,000s.
Does Hardin-Simmons University have good job outcomes?
Job outcomes vary significantly by major at Hardin-Simmons University. Healthcare programs produce strong earners, but the 49.6% graduation rate means many students leave without a degree and face poor employment prospects.