Texas Southern University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Houston, Texas. It enrolls 6,844 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
51/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes6
Value35
Affordability82
Selectivity3
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 96.9%, Texas Southern University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
96.9%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
800 – 1000
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
15 – 19
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Texas Southern University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
2.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Texas Southern University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,590 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,590
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
72%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
67%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$9,173
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$21,473
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,800
Room & Board (off-campus)
$18,670
Books & Supplies
$1,654
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,028
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,028
Total Cost of Attendance
$27,052
Application fee: $42 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,437
$30,001 – $48,000
$21,115
$48,001 – $75,000
$21,280
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,698
Over $110,000
$21,610
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$29,000Medianpercentile
$30,50475%percentile
$44,43190%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $17,653
↓ $11,347
No Pell $10,900
↓ $18,100
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $14,000
Independent students $20,734
↓ $8,266
Female students $17,000
↓ $12,000
Male students $15,244
↓ $13,756
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($29,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
28% of full-time students who enrolled at Texas Southern University graduate within six years, and 61% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
28%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
61%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Texas Southern University earn a median of $38,924 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,924
Earning > $25K
62%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$36,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$39,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$39,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$42,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
20.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 58% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Texas Southern University is home to 6,844 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 39% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
6,844
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
39%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 85.9%5,877
Hispanic 8.0%548
Other 3.8%259
International 1.0%66
White 0.7%48
Asian 0.6%38
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Texas Southern University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityHouston, Texas
Housing
Partly residential2,322 beds available
Adult Learners
14%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
Texas Southern University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
74 distinct programs across
24 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Texas Southern University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$11,016
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$86M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$72,773
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
380 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
108
28%
$102,312
Associate Professors
71
19%
$72,774
Assistant Professors
49
13%
$66,721
Instructors
2
1%
$56,038
No Rank
150
39%
$53,705
Pros & Cons of Texas Southern University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Texas Southern University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Higher than typical student debt at graduation
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Texas Southern University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Texas Southern University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Texas Southern University.
Is Texas Southern University hard to get into?
Texas Southern University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 96.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at Texas Southern University?
Texas Southern University has an acceptance rate of 96.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Texas Southern University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Texas Southern University scored between 800 and 1000 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Texas Southern University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Texas Southern University scored between 15 and 19 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Texas Southern University cost?
The average net price after aid at Texas Southern University is $16,590 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Texas Southern University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,924 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,590 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Texas Southern University known for?
Texas Southern University is best known for its programs in Law, Biology, Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Texas Southern University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Texas Southern University are $38,924, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Texas Southern University accredited?
Yes. Texas Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Texas Southern University?
Texas Southern University enrolls 6,844 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Texas Southern University?
Texas Southern University graduates 28% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Texas Southern University a public or private college?
Texas Southern University is a Public institution.
Where is Texas Southern University located?
Texas Southern University is located in Houston, Texas.
What programs does Texas Southern University offer?
Texas Southern University offers 74 distinct programs. The most popular include Law, Biology, Criminal Justice.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Texas Southern University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Texas Southern University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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