Head-to-head comparison
LeTourneau University vs Hardin-Simmons University: which has better ROI?
Option A Longview, TX
LeTourneau University
- Net price / year
- $28,185
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,103
- Payback
- 12.9 yrs
Option B Abilene, TX
Hardin-Simmons University
- Net price / year
- $19,555
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,771
- Payback
- 12.2 yrs
Hardin-Simmons University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $78,220 in 12.2 years versus 12.9 years at LeTourneau University, on median earnings of $54,771 vs $57,103 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | LeTourneau University | Hardin-Simmons University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $28,185 | $19,555 |
| Total net cost | $112,740 | $78,220 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,103 | $54,771 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $24,711 |
| Payback | 12.9 yrs | 12.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $62,120 | $50,000 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, LeTourneau University or Hardin-Simmons University?
Hardin-Simmons University, at $19,555 a year after aid versus $28,185 — a gap of $8,630 a year, or $34,520 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 LeTourneau University or Hardin-Simmons University graduates earn more?
LeTourneau University graduates report a median $57,103 ten years after entry, $2,332 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, LeTourneau University or Hardin-Simmons University?
Hardin-Simmons University: its completers carry a median $24,711 in federal loans versus $26,000 at LeTourneau University, a difference of $1,289. 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?
59% of students finish at LeTourneau 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.