Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at Hardin-Simmons University

Similar rhetoric and composition programs in Texas suggest graduates might earn around $38,000 in their first year—roughly $10,000 above the national median for this field. With estimated debt of $26,000, that's a manageable 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning the typical graduate would owe about eight months' worth of their first-year salary. For a liberal arts degree that often leads to teaching, editing, or communications roles, these numbers place Hardin-Simmons in the middle of the pack among Texas schools offering this major.

The challenge is that these estimates come from peer programs across Texas, not Hardin-Simmons' actual graduates, so there's real uncertainty here. The university's 97% admission rate and below-average SAT scores might suggest graduates face a tougher job market than students from more selective programs like UT-Austin or Texas Tech, where reported earnings run $1,000-$7,000 higher. On the other hand, nearly 40% of students receive Pell grants, and borrowing $26,000 for a career-oriented humanities degree isn't outrageous if your child can land steady work after graduation.

The key question is employment outcomes: can Hardin-Simmons help your child convert this degree into an actual job? Visit the career services office and ask for placement data specific to this major—where recent graduates are working and what they're earning. Without that information, you're making a $26,000 bet on incomplete evidence.