Head-to-head comparison
Houston Christian University vs Hardin-Simmons University: which has better ROI?
Option A Houston, TX
Houston Christian University
- Net price / year
- $20,629
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,933
- Payback
- 10.9 yrs
Option B Abilene, TX
Hardin-Simmons University
- Net price / year
- $19,555
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,771
- Payback
- 12.2 yrs
Houston Christian University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,516 in 10.9 years versus 12.2 years at Hardin-Simmons University, on median earnings of $55,933 vs $54,771 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Houston Christian University | Hardin-Simmons University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,629 | $19,555 |
| Total net cost | $82,516 | $78,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,933 | $54,771 |
| Median debt | $22,642 | $24,711 |
| Payback | 10.9 yrs | 12.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $68,944 | $50,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Houston Christian University or Hardin-Simmons University?
Hardin-Simmons University, at $19,555 a year after aid versus $20,629 — a gap of $1,074 a year, or $4,296 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Houston Christian University or Hardin-Simmons University graduates earn more?
Houston Christian University graduates report a median $55,933 ten years after entry, $1,162 more than the $54,771 at Hardin-Simmons University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Houston Christian University or Hardin-Simmons University?
Houston Christian University: its completers carry a median $22,642 in federal loans versus $24,711 at Hardin-Simmons University, a difference of $2,069. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
49% of students finish at Houston Christian University, against 46% at Hardin-Simmons University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.