Hardin-Simmons University

Hardin-Simmons University's program mix is anchored in Business and professional fields aligned with the institution's identity as a private Christian university in Texas. Business Administration is the largest program with 49 graduates, followed by Kinesiology, Psychology, General, Biology, General, and Subject-Specific Teacher Education.

Across 17 programs serving roughly 295 students annually, the institution concentrates its degree output in applied professional and business-oriented fields. Business Administration leads the institution's program portfolio by enrollment and delivers median earnings of $48,112 four years after enrollment.

Kinesiology graduates earn $50,560, while Psychology, General graduates reach $47,423. Among the highest-earning programs, Nursing delivers median earnings of $90,276 with 18 graduates, and Biology, General reaches $52,005 with 23 graduates.

This earnings range reflects the diversity of career pathways available across Hardin-Simmons University's program offerings. Several of these programs represent direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter professional roles immediately after completion, while others, such as those in education and health-related fields, may lead to licensure or credential requirements that shape early-career earnings.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Hardin-Simmons University's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand in Texas and beyond.

Hardin-Simmons University's published cost of attendance is $45,904. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $13,822, middle-income families pay around $17,248, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,639.

Azimuth ranks Hardin-Simmons University #747 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Hardin-Simmons participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure combines need-based grants with merit scholarships for qualifying students.

Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based aid and to understand their expected family contribution. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,711, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $27,661; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $53,769, median federal debt of $24,711 projects to a monthly payment of about $279 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Hardin-Simmons University earn median 4-year earnings of $53,769, placing Hardin-Simmons University in the 13.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,788 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Hardin-Simmons University in the 50.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Hardin-Simmons University #1070 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Hardin-Simmons University's concentration in business and professional fields.

Business Administration is the largest program with 49 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $48,112, performing at 0.7x the national benchmark for the field. The Kinesiology program graduates 39 students with median 4-year earnings of $50,560, and Psychology, General delivers median 4-year earnings of $47,423 across 29 graduates.

Together, these programs anchor Hardin-Simmons University's return profile and demonstrate how the university's focus on Business translates into competitive early-career outcomes for its graduates.