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Abilene-skylinePhoto: Atownbman · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Abilene

Abilene is home to three colleges, with 6,066 students on campus

Abilene Christian University (3,545 students on campus) and Hardin-Simmons University (1,509) are inside the city. About 9% of Abilene’s residents are enrolled in college, above Texas (6%).

Hardin-Simmons UniversityAbilene Christian University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Abilene. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
3
6,066 students on campus
Nearest college
1.5 mi
Hardin-Simmons University
Residents in college
9%
Above TX (6%)
Nearest community college
44.1 mi
Cisco College · $4,710 tuition
Nearest public university
82 mi
Angelo State · $8,460 in-state
Median household income
$63K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Abilene

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 1.9 milesHardin-Simmons University admits 90% of applicants; Abilene Christian University admits 66%. Together they have 5,054 students on campus.A community college 44.1 miles awayCisco College in Cisco: tuition and fees $4,710 a year for Texas residents.In-state price at Angelo StateLiving in Texas, Angelo State University charges $8,460 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $18,300. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 9% of residentsAbove Texas (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Abilene

Three private colleges within 1.9 miles. The nearest public four-year college, Angelo State University, is 82 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miAbilene Christian UniversityHardin-Simmons UniversityMcMurry UniversityAbilene
University or collegeCommunity college
Hardin-Simmons UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,509 on campus · In Abilene90%admitted$20knet price46%graduate$55kearningsMcMurry UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,012 on campus · In Abilene · mostly online57%admitted$20knet price44%graduate$49kearnings60% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Abilene Christian UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,545 on campus · In Abilene66%admitted$26knet price59%graduate$56kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Abilene’s median household income ($62,648) falls.

Angelo State University82 mi · San Angelo · sticker $23,441$14,787a year
Hardin-Simmons UniversityIn Abilene · sticker $45,904$17,248a year
McMurry UniversityIn Abilene · mostly online · sticker $43,778$18,272a year
Abilene Christian UniversityIn Abilene · sticker $59,256$23,012a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Hardin-Simmons UniversityMcMurry UniversityAbilene Christian UniversityAngelo State
Angelo State University44% graduate$50k earnings$20k typical debt
Abilene Christian University59% graduate$56k earnings*$24k typical debt
Hardin-Simmons University46% graduate$55k earnings$25k typical debt
McMurry University44% graduate$49k earnings$27k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Abilene Christian University (2).

Majors

What students study in Abilene

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Abilene’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 19%Parks & recreation 10%Health professions 10%Psychology 7%Education 6%Visual & performing arts 5%Everything else 44%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingAbilene Christian University · 55 graduates a year
$89k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralAbilene Christian University · 41 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessHardin-Simmons University · 40 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessAbilene Christian University · 40 graduates a year
$63k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsHardin-Simmons University · 39 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesAbilene Christian University · 38 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesAbilene Christian University · 37 graduates a year
$84k4 yrs out
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesAbilene Christian University · 33 graduates a year
$71k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: McMurry University, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Abilene

Is Abilene a college town?

No. About 9 of every 100 Abilene residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Texas (6). The largest campus in the city, Abilene Christian University, has 3,545 students on campus.

What colleges are in Abilene?

Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons University and McMurry University are inside the city. Cisco College is 44.1 miles away in Cisco.

What is the closest community college to Abilene, and what does it cost?

Cisco College in Cisco, 44.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,710 a year for Texas residents; the federal net price, $9,624, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Angelo State University cost if we live in Texas?

Tuition and fees are $8,460 a year in-state and $18,300 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,008 (under $30,000 income) to $22,368 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Abilene. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →