Abilene Christian vs Hardin-Simmons
Abilene Christian University (ACU) and Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) are two private Christian universities located in Texas, offering distinct educational experiences. ACU, situated in Abilene, boasts a higher acceptance rate (75%) compared to HSU's 68%, making it slightly easier to gain admission. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with ACU excelling in fields like Business, Education, and Nursing, while HSU shines in areas such as Communication, Music, and Social Work. ACU's student body is predominantly female (58%), while HSU has a more balanced gender ratio. In terms of graduation rates, ACU holds a slight edge over HSU, with 65% of its students completing their degrees within four years compared to HSU's 60%. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve deeper into the differences between these two institutions and make an informed decision about your higher education journey.
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![]() Abilene Christian University |
![]() Hardin-Simmons University |
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Overview |
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Location | Abilene, Texas | Abilene, Texas |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 79.0% | 63.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Churches of Christ | Baptist |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 70.1% | 94.6% |
Application fees | $65 | $50 |
SAT range | 1050 - 1270 | 970 - 1170 |
ACT range | 22 - 28 | 18 - 23 |
Students submitting SAT score | 35.0% | 37.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 28.0% | 26.0% |
Total number of applicants | 8,208 | 2,125 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,755 | 2,010 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 833 | 388 |
Yield rate | 14.5% | 19.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $55,500 | $45,957 |
Average net price | $29,734 | $23,337 |
Tuition | $39,250 | $29,526 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,878
Meal plan:
$5,750
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Room/dormitory:
$4,700
Meal plan:
$5,900
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $23,662 |
99.0%
Average amount $21,576 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
53.0%
Average amount $5,275 |
63.0%
Average amount $5,346 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $18,262 |
11.0%
Average amount $11,895 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,138
Men 39.2% Women 60.8% |
1,476
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
Graduate students |
1,774
Men 28.1% Women 71.9% |
461
Men 34.1% Women 65.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 14.8% | 3.4% |
International students | 3.3% | 3.0% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 2,153 | 1,303 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Texas Oklahoma California Arizona Tennessee | Texas New Mexico New Hampshire Oregon California |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 15:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 60.2% | 51.6% |
Dropout rate | 38.8% | 5.8% |
Transferred out | N/A | 42.1% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other (Master's Degrees)
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Master's Degrees)
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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