Henderson State University vs. Tarleton

Should I go to Henderson State University or Tarleton State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Henderson State University or Tarleton 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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Henderson State University vs. Tarleton State University comparison
Henderson State University Tarleton State University College 3 College 4
Henderson State University Tarleton State University
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Overview

Henderson State University Tarleton
Location Arkadelphia, AR Stephenville, TX
Setting Distant Town Remote Town
Enrollment 2,136 15,937
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #988 #904
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hsu.edu tarleton.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Henderson State University Tarleton
Tuition (In State) $6,163 $4,416
Tuition (Out of State) $8,160 $14,496
Room & Board $10,680 $10,846
Avg Net Price $16,929 $15,363
Avg Grant Aid $9,017 $7,600
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 89%

Admission

Henderson State University Tarleton
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,814 8,746
Admitted 1,486 8,239
Acceptance Rate 81.9% 94.2%
Enrolled % 20.6% 32.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.21
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/21 19/24
SAT Range 903/1073 960/1150
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 Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Henderson State University Tarleton
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (20%)
  • General Studies (18%)
  • Agriculture (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Henderson State University Tarleton
Graduation Rate 31% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,400 $45,500
Making Student Loan Payments 48% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $201 $204

Diversity

Henderson State University Tarleton
% Men 8% 5%
% Women 23% 9%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 66% 68%
% Black 24% 8%
% Hispanic 4% 18%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Henderson State University Tarleton
% In-State 77% 96%
% Out-of-State 21% 3%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Tarleton State University is larger than than Henderson State University based on total student enrollment (15,937 students vs. 2,136 students)

Henderson State University vs. Tarleton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Henderson State University or Tarleton?

  • Henderson State University is 39.6% more expensive to attend than Tarleton for in-state tuition ($6,163.00 vs. $4,416.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 77.6% higher at Tarleton than Henderson State University ($14,496.00 vs. $8,160.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Tarleton State University than Henderson State University ($15,363 vs. $16,929)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Henderson State University are 1.6% lower than costs at Tarleton State University ($10,680 vs. $10,846)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Henderson State University than Tarleton State University (99% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Henderson State University students is 18.6% larger than aid received Tarleton State University ($9,017 vs. $7,600)

Henderson State University vs. Tarleton Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Henderson State University (988) is 29 points higher than at Tarleton (959)
  • Incoming Henderson State University students have at the same average ACT score (21) as students at Tarleton (21)
  • Accepted freshman Henderson State University students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.23) than students at Tarleton (3.21)
  • Tarleton has a higher acceptance rate (94.2%) than Henderson State University (81.9%)

Henderson State University vs. Tarleton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Henderson State University or Tarleton? 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 Tarleton and Henderson State University.

  • The graduation rate at Tarleton is higher than Henderson State University (39% vs. 31%)
  • Graduates from Tarleton State University earn on average $7,100 more per year than Henderson State University graduates after ten years. ($45,500 vs. $38,400)
  • Henderson State University students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than Tarleton graduates. ($19,500 vs. $19,750)
  • Henderson State University graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Tarleton graduates. ($201 vs. $204)
  • More Tarleton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Henderson State University students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 48%)

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