Management Information Systems and Services at Hardin-Simmons University

The estimated debt load of $26,581 sits above both Texas and national medians for MIS programs, while projected first-year earnings track exactly with the Texas state median of $52,836. For context, peer MIS programs nationally typically produce starting salaries around $59,490, suggesting Texas graduates in this field earn about 11% less than the national average—a gap that affects Hardin-Simmons graduates indirectly through these estimates. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50 falls within reasonable territory, but it's worth noting the state's top programs deliver substantially higher returns: UT Austin grads start at $86,622, and even mid-tier Texas programs like UNT produce $64,441 starters.

What complicates the analysis here is that we're working entirely with estimates—neither the earnings nor debt figures come from actual Hardin-Simmons graduates in this program. The school's 97% admission rate and relatively accessible profile suggest it serves a different student population than UT or A&M, which may explain why we're seeing suppressed data (likely a small graduating cohort). If you're considering this program, recognize you're making a decision with limited visibility into actual outcomes. The fundamentals of MIS degrees remain strong—it's a practical credential with clear career paths—but you'll need to independently verify what Hardin-Simmons graduates actually achieve in the job market, ideally by connecting with alumni or the career services office directly.