Abilene, Texas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Abilene, Texas shows: median public in-state tuition $32,960 (+498.0% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $54,771 (+0.8% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 91.4% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $24,250 (+80.5% vs U.S.) 5,726 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 5 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 5,726 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $32,960 (+498.0% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $54,771 (+0.8% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 91.4% (+3.5 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $19,581 (+96.5% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $24,250 (+80.5% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $11,012
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 46.0%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 64.9%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Abilene, Texas—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Texas and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Abilene vs Texas & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, Texas | $32,960 | $19,581 | $24,250 | 46.0% | 5,726 |
| Texas (state median) | $3,555 | $8,031 | $10,667 | 45.2% | 1,239,434 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Abilene, Texas vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, Texas | $54,771 | 91.4% | 64.9% | 5.9% | — | 77.8% | 0.45 |
| Texas (state median) | $54,274 | 89.8% | 69.6% | 6.9% | — | 69.1% | 0.40 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Texas (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, Texas | $32,960 | $19,581 | $24,250 | 46.0% | 5,726 | $54,771 | 91.4% |
| Houston | $13,920 | $19,701 | $12,000 | 46.7% | 137,564 | $59,224 | 87.5% |
| San Antonio | $11,707 | $20,465 | $9,500 | 50.5% | 111,767 | $56,844 | 90.7% |
| Austin | $23,500 | $21,991 | $9,120 | 44.6% | 82,274 | $59,854 | 89.8% |
| Dallas | $17,666 | $22,800 | $13,000 | 45.8% | 62,329 | $42,091 | 86.2% |
| Fort Worth | $11,934 | $24,181 | $15,500 | 31.5% | 57,100 | $61,238 | 90.7% |
| El Paso | $9,744 | $15,578 | $11,000 | 65.5% | 50,606 | $50,923 | 89.2% |
| Denton | $9,974 | $15,649 | $19,218 | 54.9% | 43,336 | $56,777 | 90.6% |
| Lubbock | $20,196 | $21,763 | $12,618 | 60.0% | 35,638 | $62,454 | 92.4% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Outcomes by sector in Abilene, Texas
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private nonprofit | 3 | $54,771 | 91.4% | 64.9% | 5.9% | — | 77.8% |
Top 10 colleges in Abilene, Texas by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 59.0%, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 46.0%, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 44.3%, McMurry University
McMurry University
Top 10 colleges in Abilene, Texas by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 91.8%, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 91.4%, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 90.2%, McMurry University
McMurry University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Abilene, Texas (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 57.0%, McMurry University
McMurry University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 66.0%, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 90.0%, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
Top 10 colleges in Abilene, Texas by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $72,481, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $48,334, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $47,240, McMurry University
McMurry University
Top 10 colleges in Abilene, Texas by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $93,032, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $90,276, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $55,605, McMurry University
McMurry University
Top 10 colleges in Abilene, Texas by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $46,727, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $44,392, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $38,647, McMurry University
McMurry University
Top 10 colleges in Abilene, Texas by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $52,257, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $48,639, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $47,393, McMurry University
McMurry University
Top 10 colleges in Abilene, Texas by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $55,736, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $54,771, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $48,779, McMurry University
McMurry University
Top 10 colleges in Abilene, Texas by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $140,868, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $125,985, McMurry University
McMurry University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $121,204, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Abilene, Texas (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $19,555, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $19,581, McMurry University
McMurry University
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Rank 3, Net Price, $26,182, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
Top 10 colleges in Abilene, Texas by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 80.5%, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 64.9%, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 63.5%, McMurry University
McMurry University
In-state tuition: Abilene, Texas vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Abilene, Texas median in-state tuition is $32,960, +498.0% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Abilene, Texas vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Abilene, Texas is $24,250 (+80.5% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $11,012.
Median earnings (10 years out): Abilene, Texas vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Abilene, Texas center around $54,771 (+0.8% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Abilene, Texas vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 91.4% at the median Abilene, Texas campus (+3.5 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Abilene, Texas median public in-state tuition is $32,960, about +498.0% vs the national median. Versus the Southwest region, tuition is +794.2%.
Median graduate debt is $24,250 (+80.5% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Abilene, Texas are $54,771, about +0.8% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 91.4% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+3.5 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 64.9% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 5.9% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 77.8% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Hardin-Simmons University (91.8%), Abilene Christian University (91.4%), McMurry University (90.2%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within Abilene, Texas, sector medians diverge: Private nonprofit median 10-yr earnings $54,771 (3 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Abilene, Texas is 46.0% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Abilene?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 5 campuses in Abilene, Texas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Abilene?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Abilene is $32,960 and median net price is $19,581. For Texas overall, medians are $3,555 and $8,031; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Abilene?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Abilene is $54,771 vs $54,274 for Texas and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Abilene colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Abilene is $24,250 vs $10,667 for Texas and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Abilene?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Abilene Christian University (graduation) and Abilene Christian University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Abilene?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 5 campuses in Abilene, Texas, 3 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Hardin-Simmons University, McMurry University, and Neecee's Barber College; 3 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Churches of Christ (1), Baptist (1), United Methodist (1).
Sources & related
- Texas college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON