Hardin-Simmons University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Hardin-Simmons University charges a net price of $19,555/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $78,220. Graduates earn a median $54,771 ten years after entry, $6,411/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 12.2 years — a 20-year net return of $50,000, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Hardin-Simmons University's 12.2-year payback ranks #876 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 32% of them, and #40 of 213 in Texas.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $19,555/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $78,220 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $54,771 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $6,411/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $24,711 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 12.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $50,000 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Hardin-Simmons University's own numbers. Net price $19,555 × 4 years = $78,220 total. Median earnings $54,771 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $6,411 a year of premium. $78,220 ÷ $6,411 = 12.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $50,000. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Hardin-Simmons University students graduate with?
A median $24,711 in federal loans among completers, or 45% of the $54,771 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Hardin-Simmons University students graduate?
46% finish their degree — 54% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $78,220 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $170,043 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Hardin-Simmons University expensive compared with other Texas colleges?
Its $19,555 net price runs $196 above the $19,359 median across the 213 Texas colleges we profile, or $784 more across the full degree.