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Abilene, TX · Waxahachie, TX
| Hardin-Simmons University | Nelson University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $19,555/yr | $21,662/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $13,822/yr | $17,583/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $24,711 | $24,725 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $15,190/yr | $18,396/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $17,248/yr | $21,731/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $18,182/yr | $23,883/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $25,639/yr | $25,474/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $262/mo | $262/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $11,500/yr | $9,598/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $11,500/yr | $15,116/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,226/yr | $1,434/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,450/yr | $6,316/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $45,904/yr | $34,504/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $32,960/yr | $25,064/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $32,960/yr | $25,064/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 40% | 48% |
| Students taking federal loans | 82% | 61% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 90% | 89% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1010–1190 | 890–1090 |
| SAT average | 1108 | 980 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 19–26 | No data reported |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 17–24 · Math 18–24 | No data reported |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 2,452 | 615 |
| Students accepted | 2,367 | 518 |
| Students who enrolled | 356 | 286 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 15% | 55% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 29% | 51% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 21% | 38% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Required |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 46% | 42% |
| Freshmen who come back | 65% | 75% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $54,771/yr | $46,238/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $37,653–$77,040 | $28,464–$63,010 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 56% | 54% |
| White students graduating | 52% | 45% |
| Black students graduating | 31% | 28% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 35% | 48% |
| Asian students graduating | 20% | 0% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $44,392/yr | $37,425/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 75% | 63% |
| Graduate on time | 37% | 29% |
| Pell students who graduate | 38% | 45% |
| First-gen students who finish | 46% | 38% |
| Low-income students who finish | 41% | 31% |
| Students who transfer out | 33% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $48,639/yr | $42,680/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 22% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 15% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 9% | Theology & Religious Vocations 29% · Philosophy & Religious Studies 20% · Business, Management & Marketing 11% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 22% of degrees | Theology & Religious Vocations — 29% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 15% of degrees | Philosophy & Religious Studies — 20% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 9% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 11% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Social Sciences — 9% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 10% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Education — 8% of degrees | Education — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $113,805/yr | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $49,631/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 14% | 0% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,283 | 1,479 |
| Students per professor | 15 : 1 | 15 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 374 | 315 |
| Average professor pay | $8,035/mo | $6,539/mo |
| Full-time professors | 64% | 46% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $53,330 | $35,444 |
| Setting | City (midsize) | Suburb (large) |
| Location | Abilene, TX | Waxahachie, TX |
| Region | Southwest | Southwest |
| Founded | 1891 | 1927 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral/Professional Universities | Master's Colleges & Universities: Small Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 3.2% | 0.7% |
| Men | 50% | 51% |
| Women | 50% | 49% |
| White students | 55% | 49% |
| Black students | 10% | 12% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 26% | 29% |
| Asian students | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Two or more races | 3.9% | 5.1% |
| Other / not reported | 0.9% | 3.7% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 31% | 38% |
| Part-time students | 5.1% | 13% |
| Students age 25+ | 5.6% | 16% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $12,190/yr | $8,441/yr |
| Endowment | $222.0M | $15.5M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,180 | 848 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $5,300/yr | $4,106/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,900/yr | $5,467/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 21 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Baptist | Assemblies of God Church |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | No |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | No | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NAIA Division I |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 18 | 10 |
| Student athletes | 535 | 465 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $2.2M |
| Athletics budget | $4.4M | $4.6M |
| Athletics revenue | $5.8M | $4.7M |
| Recruiting spend | $18,934 | $19,493 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.