Hardin-Simmons vs Howard Payne: Softball Program Comparison
Two D3 programs in the ASC. Hardin-Simmons lists $1,636 less in tuition; Hardin-Simmons graduates 19 points more of its students.
Which one is right for you?
Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.
Lean Hardin-Simmons if…
- Finishing the degree is the priority: Hardin-Simmons graduates 19 percentage points more of its students than Howard Payne.
- You are weighing the degree as an investment: Hardin-Simmons graduates earn about $6,395 more per year a decade after enrolling.
- You want to leave with less owed: median debt at Hardin-Simmons is $2,082 lower than at Howard Payne.
- Admissions is the part you are least sure about: Hardin-Simmons admits 90% of applicants.
Lean Howard Payne if…
- Your transcript is a strength: Howard Payne admits 67% of applicants, so strong grades count for more here.
What it costs to go there
Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.
| Measure | Hardin-Simmons | Howard Payne |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency. | $31,686 — Hardin-Simmons leads on this measure: lower published tuition | $33,322 |
| Room & board | $10,634 | $10,074 — Howard Payne leads on this measure: lower room & board |
| Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid. | $42,320 | $43,396 |
What you leave with
Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.
| Measure | Hardin-Simmons | Howard Payne |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 50% — Hardin-Simmons leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree | 31% |
| Median earnings, 10 years after entry | $54,771/yr — Hardin-Simmons leads on this measure: higher median earnings a decade out | $48,376/yr |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,711 — Hardin-Simmons leads on this measure: less debt carried out the door | $26,793 |
| Debt as a share of year-10 payMedian debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back. | 45% — Hardin-Simmons leads on this measure: debt is a smaller share of what graduates earn | 55% |
Getting in, and what you'd walk into
Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.
| Measure | Hardin-Simmons | Howard Payne |
|---|---|---|
| Admission rateLower means more selective — harder to get in, but not automatically the better fit. | 90% | 67% |
| Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table. | 1,655 | 833 |
| Where it is | Abilene, TX | Brownwood, TX |
The softball program itself
Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.
| Measure | Hardin-Simmons | Howard Payne |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Casey Wilson | Bianca Gonzales |
How you actually get in front of them
Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.
| Measure | Hardin-Simmons | Howard Payne |
|---|---|---|
| Recruiting questionnaire | — | Yes |
| Program on X / Instagram | Yes | — |
Scholarship money, honestly
Both programs sit at NCAA Division III, so the scholarship rules are identical: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
What to do about it this week
Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.
Hardin-Simmons
Find the recruiting questionnaireWe do not hold a verified form link for this program — this opens a search.
Camps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Howard Payne
Open the recruiting questionnaireCamps we track
None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.
Hardin-Simmons vs Howard Payne: common questions
- Is Hardin-Simmons or Howard Payne cheaper?
- Published cost is effectively the same — about $42,320 a year in tuition and housing at both, before any aid. Cost is unlikely to be what decides this one.
- Which school graduates more of its students, Hardin-Simmons or Howard Payne?
- Hardin-Simmons, at 50% against 31% at Howard Payne (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
- Do Hardin-Simmons and Howard Payne offer softball scholarships?
- Both play at NCAA Division III: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
- How do I contact the coaches at Hardin-Simmons and Howard Payne?
- Howard Payne runs a recruiting questionnaire — submit it first, since questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules. For Hardin-Simmons, we do not hold a verified form link, so start from the program page and email the staff directly.
Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.
We work hard to keep all data for Hardin-Simmons and Howard Payne accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.
Still deciding between them?
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