Abilene, Texas Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Abilene, Texas: median public in-state tuition $34,260 (+501.1% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $56,313 (-5.2% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 93.5% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $20,500 (+51.9% vs U.S.) 5,726 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Abilene serve students across Texas with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 5 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 5,726 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $34,260. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Abilene, 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 | $34,260 | $19,021 | $20,500 | 44.5% | 5,726 |
| Texas (state median) | $3,540 | $7,932 | $9,750 | 43.0% | 1,240,605 |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 |
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 | $56,313 | 93.5% | 64.9% | 5.9% | — | 77.8% | 0.40 |
| Texas (state median) | $57,299 | 91.8% | 69.6% | 6.9% | — | 69.4% | 0.35 |
| United States | $59,401 | 93.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.8% | 0.36 |
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 | $34,260 | $19,021 | $20,500 | 44.5% | 5,726 | $56,313 | 93.5% |
| Houston | $12,505 | $19,358 | $10,667 | 48.3% | 137,452 | $64,410 | 91.2% |
| San Antonio | $11,760 | $17,214 | $9,500 | 44.9% | 111,767 | $59,684 | 91.8% |
| Austin | $25,000 | $26,081 | $9,500 | 43.2% | 82,274 | $64,686 | 91.8% |
| Dallas | $18,523 | $23,963 | $10,667 | 38.7% | 62,146 | $51,797 | 90.1% |
| Dallas | $18,523 | $23,963 | $10,667 | 38.7% | 62,146 | $51,797 | 90.1% |
| Dallas | $18,523 | $23,963 | $10,667 | 38.7% | 62,146 | $51,797 | 90.1% |
| Fort Worth | $12,350 | $21,718 | $14,500 | 38.4% | 57,100 | $66,958 | 92.8% |
| El Paso | $12,375 | $17,332 | $12,750 | 66.2% | 50,598 | $54,599 | 90.7% |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 | $59,401 | 93.0% |
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 | $56,313 | 93.5% | 64.9% | 5.9% | — | 77.8% |
Top 3 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, 54.7%, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 44.5%, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 42.4%, McMurry University
McMurry University
Top 3 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, 93.6%, McMurry University
McMurry University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 93.5%, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 3, Employment Outcome, 93.0%, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
Top 3 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 3 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, $81,769, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $78,954, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $63,963, McMurry University
McMurry University
Top 3 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 3 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, $50,880, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $47,294, McMurry University
McMurry University
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Rank 3, Mid-Career Earnings, $45,927, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
Top 3 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, $56,022, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $54,464, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 3, 8-Yr Earnings, $46,031, McMurry University
McMurry University
Top 3 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, $61,376, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $56,313, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr Earnings, $53,830, McMurry University
McMurry University
Top 3 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, $163,633, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $148,643, McMurry University
McMurry University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $140,713, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
Top 3 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, $19,021, McMurry University
McMurry University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $19,731, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
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Rank 3, Net Price, $27,943, Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
Top 3 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 $34,260, +501.1% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Abilene, Texas vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Abilene, Texas is $20,500 (+51.9% vs U.S. median $13,500). Regional median: $12,048.
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 $56,313 (-5.2% 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 93.5% at the median Abilene, Texas campus (+0.5 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 $34,260, about +501.1% vs the national median. Versus the Southwest region, tuition is +822.3%.
Median graduate debt is $20,500 (+51.9% above the U.S. median of $13,500). 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 $56,313, about -5.2% vs the U.S. campus median ($59,401).
The median campus reports 93.5% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 93.0% (+0.5 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 76.4%—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. 73.8%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include McMurry University (93.6%), Hardin-Simmons University (93.5%), Abilene Christian University (93.0%)—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 $56,313 (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 44.5% (national institution average about 49.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Abilene?
This city profile covers 5 campuses in Abilene, Texas with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Abilene?
Median in-state tuition in Abilene is $34,260 and median net price is $19,021. For Texas overall, medians are $3,540 and $7,932; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Abilene?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Abilene is $56,313 vs $57,299 for Texas and $59,401 nationally.
What is student debt like for Abilene colleges?
Median completer debt in Abilene is $20,500 vs $9,750 for Texas and $13,500 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Abilene?
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?
Among 5 campuses in Abilene, Texas, 3 campuses report at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment in U.S. Department of Education data; 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
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