Hardin-Simmons University

Statistics

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Students Say - Academics
"There is an emphasis on "the importance of [students'] faith in everyday life and in their future" at relatively small and very Baptist Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. Naturally, the theology and ministry programs are tremendous. Offerings in music, education, physical therapy, and the hard sciences are reportedly excellent as well. "The school's administration and professors work hard to be available to the students," boasts a psychology major. Financial aid is ample and the "HSU Commitment" is definitely worth noting. As long as you stay enrolled for consecutive semesters and don't flunk out, Hardin-Simmons guarantees that your tuition will not increase. "The classes are a perfect size," says one undergrad. "I love that my professors know me by name," adds a sophomore. The biggest complaint here seems to concern the range of teaching ability among the professors. "Some of the professors are very interesting and it makes you pay attention," says a nursing major, "and some just make you want to leave the class immediately.""

Students Say - Campus Life
""Life at Hardin-Simmons is pretty easygoing," observes a junior. "There never seems to be much drama." "The food needs substantial improvement," though. The dorms "need to be upgraded," too, although major renovations are currently underway. Religion is a prominent fixture of campus life. "Church-like functions" are everywhere and students must attend chapel about once a week. Chapel credits "can be earned through community service, attending school theater and music performances, and by attending Tuesday chapels." Despite the emphasis on religion, students tell us that belief in God "is not shoved down anyone's throat." Athletics are also really big. The football team in particular has a storied tradition. Frats and sororities are reasonably popular and some students do occasionally drink but "the social atmosphere is a bit tamer." Mostly, goofy fun abounds, "like bringing pillows and sleeping bags out to the campus lawn and watching movies on someone's TV." "Many nights we will end up at Wal-Mart playing hide-and-go-seek or some other childish game," explains a sophomore. Luckily, "none of the weirdoes who are actually shopping at that time of night find it odd to see you peeking out from the giant bin of superballs on the toy aisle." Besides the Wal-Mart, "Abilene is really quite boring." Dallas, the closest big city, is a couple hours away."

Students Say - Student Body
"Students find the student body at Hardin-Simmons "virtually homogenous," so it's no surprise that pretty much everybody here comes from the Lone Star State. "A typical student is a middle-class white student who has grown up in a religious home." There are "a lot of people from small towns who graduated in classes of less than 100 students." Also, "HSU is friendly towards homeschoolers," notes a sophomore, "and that's a big reason I applied and came here." On the whole, these students identify themselves as "very religious" and "fairly conservative." Some are "very hypocritical and judgmental due to their strict backgrounds," but "Most of the kids here are friendly, normal people." They "hold open doors and say ‘hello.'" "They're like typical students elsewhere, only minus the rampant partying.""

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