Central State University vs. TSU

Should I go to Central State University or Texas Southern University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central State University or TSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Central State University vs. Texas Southern University comparison
Central State University Texas Southern University College 3 College 4
Central State University Texas Southern University
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Overview

Central State University TSU
Location Wilberforce, OH Houston, TX
Setting Rural Fringe Large City
Enrollment 3,454 8,469
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1017 #1013
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website centralstate.edu tsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Central State University TSU
Tuition (In State) $5,404 $7,437
Tuition (Out of State) $7,404 $20,037
Room & Board $11,390 $10,914
Avg Net Price $14,821 $15,021
Avg Grant Aid $6,318 $9,437
% Receiving Grant Aid 86% 97%

Admission

Central State University TSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,291 7,867
Admitted 1,514 7,344
Acceptance Rate 46% 93.4%
Enrolled % 37.9% 22.6%
Avg High School GPA 2.8 3.0
Typical High School Grades B- B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 14/18 15/19
SAT Range 770/950 800/1000
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2026

Academics

Central State University TSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • General Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Central State University TSU
Graduation Rate 24% 12%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $27,200 $36,200
Making Student Loan Payments 16% 22%
Median Student Loan Debt $39,000 $29,358
Median Loan Payment $403 $303

Diversity

Central State University TSU
% Men 0% 8%
% Women 0% 14%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Very Low
HBCU Yes Yes
% White 1% 2%
% Black 95% 80%
% Hispanic 1% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 0%
% International 0% 8%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

Central State University TSU
% In-State 47% 77%
% Out-of-State 44% 22%

Campus

Central State University TSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Texas Southern University is larger than than Central State University based on total student enrollment (8,469 students vs. 3,454 students)

Central State University vs. TSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central State University or TSU?

  • Texas Southern University is 37.6% more expensive to attend than Central State University for in-state tuition ($7,437.00 vs. $5,404.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 170.6% higher at TSU than Central State University ($20,037.00 vs. $7,404.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central State University than TSU ($14,821 vs. $15,021)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Texas Southern University are 4.4% lower than costs at Central State University ($10,914 vs. $11,390)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Texas Southern University than Central State University (97% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Texas Southern University students is 49.4% larger than aid received Central State University ($9,437 vs. $6,318)

Central State University vs. TSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central State University or TSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between TSU or Central State University .

  • The average SAT score at Texas Southern University (817) is 40 points higher than at Central State University (777)
  • Incoming TSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (17) than students at Central State University (16)
  • Accepted freshman TSU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.0) than students at Central State University (2.8)
  • TSU has a higher acceptance rate (93.4%) than Central State University (46%)

Central State University vs. TSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central State University or TSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between TSU and Central State University.

  • The graduation rate at Central State University is higher than Texas Southern University (24% vs. 12%)
  • Graduates from Texas Southern University earn on average $9,000 more per year than Central State University graduates after ten years. ($36,200 vs. $27,200)
  • Texas Southern University students graduate with a $9,642 lower median federal student loan debt than Central State University graduates. ($29,358 vs. $39,000)
  • TSU graduates are paying $100 less per month on federal student loans than Central State University graduates. ($303 vs. $403)
  • More TSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central State University students, three years after graduation. (22% vs. 16%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/