DBU vs. TLU

Deciding between Dallas Baptist University and Texas Lutheran University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Dallas Baptist University
Texas Lutheran University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • DBU Dallas, TX
  • TLU Seguin, TX
  • Setting
  • DBU Large City
  • TLU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • DBU 4,124
  • TLU 1,423
  • Type
  • DBU Private 4 Year
  • TLU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DBU #542
  • TLU #629
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DBU Baptist
  • TLU American Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • DBU Non-profit
  • TLU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DBU
  • TLU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DBU $40,190
  • TLU $36,230
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DBU $40,190
  • TLU $36,230
  • Room & Board
  • DBU $11,876
  • TLU $12,350
  • Average Net Price
  • DBU $30,057
  • TLU $25,119
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DBU $22,711
  • TLU $24,861
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DBU 97%
  • TLU 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DBU 6,163
  • TLU 2,306
  • Admitted
  • DBU 5,475
  • TLU 2,207
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DBU 88.8%
  • TLU 95.7%
  • Enrolled
  • DBU 11.2%
  • TLU 16.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DBU 1090
  • TLU 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • DBU 23
  • TLU 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • DBU 3.46
  • TLU 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DBU B+
  • TLU A
  • Admissions Standards
  • DBU Moderate
  • TLU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • DBU
  • TLU
  • ACT Range
  • DBU 20/26
  • TLU 22/28
  • SAT Range
  • DBU 960/1213
  • TLU 1030/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DBU Test optional
  • TLU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • DBU
  • TLU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DBU 16:1
  • TLU 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DBU
    • Business (28%)
    • General Studies (15%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • TLU
    • Business (25%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DBU 56%
  • TLU 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DBU $47,700
  • TLU $49,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DBU 54%
  • TLU 67%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DBU $21,750
  • TLU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DBU $224
  • TLU $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DBU 41%
  • TLU 46%
  • % Women
  • DBU 59%
  • TLU 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DBU High
  • TLU High
  • HBCU
  • DBU No
  • TLU No
  • % White
  • DBU 60%
  • TLU 55%
  • % Asian
  • DBU 2%
  • TLU 1%
  • % Black
  • DBU 15%
  • TLU 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • DBU 15%
  • TLU 32%
  • % Native American
  • DBU 1%
  • TLU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DBU 0%
  • TLU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DBU 0%
  • TLU 0%
  • % International
  • DBU 7%
  • TLU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DBU 0%
  • TLU 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DBU 92%
  • TLU 100%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DBU 8%
  • TLU 0%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • DBU Yes
  • TLU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • DBU No
  • TLU No
  • Meal Plan
  • DBU Yes
  • TLU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • DBU Yes
  • TLU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • DBU No
  • TLU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, TX with Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dallas Baptist University is larger than TLU based on total student enrollment (4,124 students vs. 1,423 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dallas Baptist University is located in Dallas, TX (Large City setting); Texas Lutheran University is in Seguin, TX (Distant Town setting).
  • Dallas Baptist University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas Lutheran University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dallas Baptist University 16:1; Texas Lutheran University 11:1.

DBU vs. TLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DBU or TLU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Texas Lutheran University than DBU ($25,119 vs. $30,057).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dallas Baptist University are 3.8% lower than at Texas Lutheran University ($11,876 vs. $12,350).
  • Dallas Baptist University is 10.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than TLU (about $3,960 more per year; $40,190.00 vs. $36,230.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.9% higher at DBU than at Texas Lutheran University (about $3,960 more per year; $40,190.00 vs. $36,230.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Texas Lutheran University than at Dallas Baptist University (100% vs. 97%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Texas Lutheran University students is 9.5% larger than aid received by Dallas Baptist University students ($24,861 vs. $22,711).

DBU vs. TLU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DBU or TLU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between TLU and DBU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Texas Lutheran University (1130) is 40 points higher than at DBU (1090).
  • Incoming TLU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at DBU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dallas Baptist University 960/1213; Texas Lutheran University 1030/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dallas Baptist University 20/26; Texas Lutheran University 22/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DBU - Test optional; TLU - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman TLU students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at DBU (3.46).
  • TLU has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than DBU (88.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at DBU vs. 16.8% at TLU.

DBU vs. TLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DBU and TLU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Dallas Baptist University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than Texas Lutheran University's (49%).
  • Graduates from Texas Lutheran University earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than DBU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $47,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Dallas Baptist University graduates have a $5,250 lower median loan debt than TLU graduates ($21,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, DBU graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TLU graduates ($224 vs. $279).
  • More TLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DBU students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.