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  ADMISSIONS top
Is there an application deadline? No, but we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
How long does it take to process an application and when will the acceptance letter be mailed? An acceptance letter will typically be sent out 5 - 7 days after all necessary documents are received.
Is an application fee required and if so, how much? There is a $50 non-refundable application fee.
What is the average fall enrollment? Around 2,400
What credentials must be submitted to properly file an application?

FRESHMEN - copy of high school transcript, ACT or SAT score, application and fee, and letters of recommendation (Level II, III, IV Admission)

TRANSFERS (less than 24 hours) - ACT or SAT scores and high school transcript required

TRANSFERS (24+ hours) - final copy of all college transcripts, application, and fee

Does the college require a minimum SAT/ACT for admission? Yes. Admission without restriction requires an ACT of 20 or an SAT of 1390 (New SAT with writing).
Is an interview, references, or essay required for admissions? Students who do not meet our regular Level I Admission are required to submit 3 letters of recommendation.
Must a physical examination be submitted prior to admission? No
Must a prescribed curriculum be completed in high school? YES:
  • English - 3 units
  • Science - 2 units
  • Math - 2 units
  • Social Sciences - 2 units
  • Electives - 7 units
Are high school honors courses weighed in favor of the grade point average and what is the minimum GPA required? No, courses are not weighed in favor of GPA and you must have acceptable grades and SAT/ACT scores for admission.
Will the college accept the General Education Diploma? Yes, with a score of 450 or better.
Will the college honor a home study program or diploma from an unaccredited private high school? Yes , Click Here to view admission requirements. (although, a GED is required if you plan to apply for Financial Aid; SAT based on new SAT with writing.)
How will the college evaluate or use two or more sets of SAT/ACT scores? We accept the highest score, but scores from separate tests can't be combined.
Does the college offer an Early Admissions Program (EAP)? Yes. Please see the University Undergraduate Bulletin for exact details.
Is there a waiting list for admissions? No
What are the transfer admission requirements? Must have 24 transferable hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.0. If less than 24 transferable hours, freshman admission requirements apply.
Is admission open for freshmen and transfers at any semester? Yes
Does the college offer a Concurrent Enrollment Program? Yes - high school students wishing to take college courses while finishing school may take credits as long as they have completed their junior year and have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Does the college offer an Intercollegiate Program? Yes - Our School of Nursing is offered in collaboration with both McMurry and ACU.
Does the college offer remedial or development studies? Yes - Developmental English, Math, and Reading courses will be required for students not scoring high enough on the coordinating sections of the SAT or ACT (See Requirements for Admission page). A Student Success Seminar is also offered to equip some incoming freshmen for the courses ahead of them.
Will the college honor either the SAT or ACT? Yes. The writing portion is required for both exams.

  ACADEMICS top
Does the university have a core curriculum or general education requirement? Yes
How many majors and degrees are offered? Over 50 Majors, 32 minors, and 6 degrees (BA, BS, BBS, BBA, BSN, BM) at the undergraduate level are offered at HSU.
Are internships, cooperatives, or study abroad available? INTERNSHIPS: Several departments such as Communication, Business, Social Work, Political Science, Leadership (minor only), and Criminal Justice, offer internships for students.

STUDY ABROAD: Dr. Dan Cooper heads up our study abroad programs which include:
  • Harlaxton College in England
  • The Salzburg College Program in Austria
  • The Homerton College Program for juniors in Cambridge

Several other travel courses are also offered through different departments at various times throughout the year.
Explain the difference between quarter and semester system? We are on a semester system where the normal terms are Fall and Spring semesters. A quarter system offers shorter terms with fewer classes that are generally offered in Fall/Winter/Spring terms to equal the two semesters.
Will the college honor AP or CLEP and if so, what are the minimum scores to receive credit? Yes. Contact the University Registrar for score requirements.
How many courses are considered a full load? 12 credit hours or more is considered a full load.
When must an academic major be declared? A major must be declared after the completion of 60 hours.
Does the college offer a tutorial service? Yes - there is a tutorial center opened in the evenings and some departments have evening lab hours as well.
Will "D's" transfer in from other colleges? No, but a "D Petition" can be made in the Registrar's office.
Is physical education required? If so, can it be waived? Four (4) physical education credits are required and they cannot be waived.
What are the college's largest academic areas? Education, Business, Math/Science
Does the college have a graduate school? Yes - HSU currently offers the following graduate programs:
  • Master of Arts - English, Family Ministry, Family Psychology, History, and Religion
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Education - Counseling and Human Development, Elementary Education, Gifted and Talented Education, Physical Education, Reading Specialist Education, Secondary Education, Sports and Recreation Management
  • Master of Music - Church Music, Performance, Music Education, Theory and Composition
  • Master of Science - Environmental Management, Nursing
  • Doctorate of Physical Therapy
  • Master of Divinity
How long does it take to graduate? An average of 4-5 years depending on program and number of hours taken each semester.
What major agencies accredit the college?

The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033. Phone #: 404.679*.4501) to award Bachelor's and Master's degrees.

Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

Council on Social Work Education

National Association of Schools of Music

Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas

Texas Board for Educator Certification

What is the student-faculty ratio? 14:1
How many full time faculty are employed and how many hold a doctorate or terminal degree? We have 118 full-time faculty, of which 74% have terminal degrees in their field.
Does the college offer pre-registration or telephone registration? Yes, both pre-registration and registration by phone or mail.
What is the total number of volumes in the library? 259,210 volumes; however, the Abilene Library Consortium holds 1,475,570 volumes.
May freshman have cars on campus? Yes
Do national fraternities and sororities exist? Most departmental fraternities, sororities, and honor societies are national; social organizations are not.
Are students required to purchase a meal plan? Only if they are living on campus
Is there a dress code? While there is no strict dress code, appropriate dress is expected.
What campus organizations emphasize religious activities? BSM, FCA, and some of the service or social clubs
Is there an infirmary or health facility on campus? Yes - the nurses office is located in the Student Center
What music groups exist (i.e. marching band, choir, ensemble)? The World Famous Cowboy Band, concert band, orchestra, Chorale, Simmons Classic, New Song, and various student ensembles
Does the college sponsor a drama or theater club? There is a drama department and auditions for school plays are open to everyone. There is also Alpha Psi Omega, which is an honorary dramatics fraternity.
How long are the holiday and term breaks? Spring Break - 1 week
Fall Break - 1 day
Good Friday - 1 day
Christmas Break - 1 month
Thanksgiving - 3 days
Summer - May to August
Is there a job placement service or career day? The Career Services Office, located in the student center, helps with job placement and publicized career days throughout the year.

  HOUSING top
Does the college offer an option between residence halls and apartment living? A student must live in the dorm until the completion of 60 hours or until they turn 21 unless they are married or live with their family. Off campus housing and campus apartments are available for students eligible to live off campus.
Do co-ed residence halls exist? No
Name the residence halls and briefly describe each? HSU has 2 men's dorms and 3 women's dorms. Visit our Housing Link for specific information about each dorm.
Are the residence halls staffed with a resident house director? Yes, they have both dorm directors and resident assistants.
Are students allowed to keep alcoholic beverages, firearms, or pets in their rooms? Absolutely not and no exceptions will be made.
Do fraternities and sororities have separate housing? No
What appliances are permitted in the residence hall room (i.e., fax machines, phone, computers, TV's, refrigerator, etc.)? Phones, computers, TV's and small refrigerators are allowed. Microwaves are only allowed if micro-fridges are rented from the school.
Are freshmen permitted to live off campus? Only if they are married or live with their family until the accumulation of 60 semester hours.
May students have private rooms? Yes, depending on availability. To have a double room to oneself, there is a $350 per semester private room fee.
How many students share a room? Two (2)
Are the residence halls air-conditioned? Yes
Is there a tuition or room deposit required to reserve space? A $100 room deposit is required.
Do residence halls have laundry facilities? Yes
Do the rooms have private or hall baths? It depends on the dorm. Behrens and Nix have both, Lange and Anderson have all suite baths, and Ferguson has all hall baths.
Are students subject to curfew? And how are residence halls secured for the evenings? No, but the doors are locked at midnight with access given only with an ID and code to residents of each specific dorm.

  ATHLETICS top
What athletic scholarships are available? None - NCAA Division III is non-scholarship
In what athletic association(s), division(s), and conferences does the college participate? NCAA Division III and the American Southwest Conference
In what intercollegiate sports does the college participate (men and women)? MEN - Football, Basketball, Baseball, Golf, Soccer, Tennis

WOMEN - Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, Golf, Soccer, Tennis
Does the college offer an intramural program and if so, which sports are the most popular? Yes - flag football, basketball, softball, and volleyball are popular. Check out the Rec Sports website for more info.
Does the college offer varsity and junior varsity cheer leading opportunities? Scholarships? We have a varsity cheer program, as well as a drill team/pom squad, but no scholarships are available.
What general athletic facilities exist for overall student use (i.e. pools, tennis courts, weight room, fields, etc.)? We have a campus pool, tennis and basketball courts (when not in use), a workout facility, located in Mabee Athletic Complex, and an intramural field for student use.

  FINANCIAL AID & EXPENSES top
What are current expenses for room, board, and fees? Average per Year:
  • Room - $2602
  • Board - $2348
  • Fees - $896
Does out-of-state tuition apply? No
Are jobs available on the college campus? Yes - through work study programs, which can be applied for through Career Services.
How much are books? Average $25 per hour - will vary
How do I apply for financial aid? By applying for admission and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1st.
Will the college bill me for tuition and fees and when are fees due? Yes - Pay 1/3 of bill up front (or at time of registration) and 1/3 monthly until bill is paid.
Will the college take a credit card? Yes
What is the refund policy? 90% -- 1st eight days of class
70% -- 2nd eight days of class
50% -- 3rd eight days of class
0% --  thereafter

  GENERAL COLLEGE QUESTIONS top
How large is the campus in acreage? 96 acres
How many buildings are located on the campus? There are 27 buildings on the main campus. View our Campus Map.
What year was the college founded? Founded in 1891.
Is there a visitation day for prospective students? Yes - Fall Preview; Winter Preview; Spring Round-Up weekend, every April. Cowboy Fridays are held one Friday each month. Appointments for visitation can be made with our visitor coordinator any time of year.
Is there a mini-term or summer school? Yes - May Term, Summer I, and Summer II
From what geographical area does the college get most of its students? Most are from the Abilene/Big Country area and the Metroplex.
Is an ROTC program available? No
What is the size of the Abilene community? About 117,000
What attractions are in reasonable distance to the college (amusement parks, beaches, mountains, lakes, recreation, etc.)? The Grace Museum, Paramount Theater, the Abilene Zoo, Dyess Linear Air Park, Buffalo Gap Historic Village, Frontier Texas, and a near by State Park
In what ways has the campus been adapted for people with handicaps? We are fully adapted with ramps, elevators, and handicap accessibility.
What is the minority enrollment? Minority Breakdown:
  • White - 77.6%
  • Black - 4.5
  • Hispanic - 7.4%
  • Asian Pacific Islander - 0.8%
  • American Indian / Alaskan - 0.5%
  • Unknown/Other - 9.1%
Where can students cash out-of-town checks? The Cashier’s Office can cash checks up to $100, provided the student has a valid ID.
What is the class attendance policy concerning cuts? Absence for more than 25% of classes is considered excessive and may warrant a grade of "F".
What is the ratio of enrolled males to females? 53.8% female to 46.2% male
Does the college offer a freshman orientation program? Yes, one week prior to the start of Fall classes.
Does the college have a campus security force? Yes - We have a full-fledged police force.
Does the college provide overnight housing for prospective student visits? Only during Spring Round-Up
Will the college accommodate special service needs such as diets, medications, psychological counseling, etc.? Medical needs are provided in the Nurse's office. Counseling is provided by our Family Psychology Center.
Who are some well-known graduates/alumni (i.e. actors, athletes, politicians, authors, business people, etc.)? Dan Blocker (TV show Bonanza), Fess Parker (played Daniel Boone on TV), Stedman Graham (founder of Athletes Against Drugs), and Clyde “Bulldog” Turner (Pro Football Hall of Fame player for the Chicago Bears) are just a few of HSU's well-known graduates or former students.
How does this college compare in size to others in the state? HSU is average in size compared to other small Christian universities in Texas.
Does the college have a toll free phone number or will it accept collect phone calls from prospective students? Toll free - 877.GOHSUTX
Fax - 325.671.2115
E-mail: enroll@hsutx.edu

 

 
2200 Hickory, Box 16050
Abilene, TX 79698
 
325.670.1206
877.GO.HSUTX
 
Call today for a campus tour:  877.GO.HSUTX
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