HBU vs. Tarleton

Deciding between Houston Christian University and Tarleton State 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.

Houston Christian University
Tarleton State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • HBU Houston, TX
  • Tarleton Stephenville, TX
  • Setting
  • HBU Large City
  • Tarleton Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • HBU 4,276
  • Tarleton 17,433
  • Type
  • HBU Private 4 Year
  • Tarleton Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HBU #837
  • Tarleton #914
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HBU Southern Baptist
  • Tarleton -
  • Status
  • HBU Non-profit
  • Tarleton Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HBU
  • Tarleton

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HBU $39,430
  • Tarleton $8,302
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HBU $39,430
  • Tarleton $18,142
  • Room & Board
  • HBU $12,928
  • Tarleton $10,920
  • Average Net Price
  • HBU $21,282
  • Tarleton $16,159
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HBU $28,870
  • Tarleton $7,929
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HBU 100%
  • Tarleton 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HBU 8,455
  • Tarleton 13,705
  • Admitted
  • HBU 7,139
  • Tarleton 12,273
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HBU 84.4%
  • Tarleton 89.6%
  • Enrolled
  • HBU 10.5%
  • Tarleton 24.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HBU 1090
  • Tarleton 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • HBU 20
  • Tarleton 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • HBU 3.46
  • Tarleton 3.21
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HBU B+
  • Tarleton B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • HBU Easy
  • Tarleton Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • HBU
  • Tarleton
  • ACT Range
  • HBU 17/24
  • Tarleton 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • HBU 990/1190
  • Tarleton 980/1160
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HBU Test optional
  • Tarleton Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • HBU
  • Tarleton Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HBU 18:1
  • Tarleton 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HBU
    • Business (21%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Tarleton
    • Business (20%)
    • General Studies (18%)
    • Agriculture (11%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HBU 45%
  • Tarleton 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HBU $51,600
  • Tarleton $45,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HBU 54%
  • Tarleton 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HBU $24,166
  • Tarleton $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HBU $249
  • Tarleton $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HBU 36%
  • Tarleton 38%
  • % Women
  • HBU 64%
  • Tarleton 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HBU Very High
  • Tarleton Medium
  • HBCU
  • HBU No
  • Tarleton No
  • % White
  • HBU 27%
  • Tarleton 68%
  • % Asian
  • HBU 10%
  • Tarleton 1%
  • % Black
  • HBU 19%
  • Tarleton 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • HBU 30%
  • Tarleton 18%
  • % Native American
  • HBU 0%
  • Tarleton 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HBU 0%
  • Tarleton 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HBU 5%
  • Tarleton 3%
  • % International
  • HBU 4%
  • Tarleton 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HBU 4%
  • Tarleton 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HBU 91%
  • Tarleton 97%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HBU 6%
  • Tarleton 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Houston Christian University in Houston, TX with Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Tarleton State University is larger than HBU based on total student enrollment (17,433 students vs. 4,276 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Houston Christian University is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); Tarleton State University is in Stephenville, TX (Remote Town setting).
  • Houston Christian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Tarleton State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Houston Christian University 18:1; Tarleton State University 20:1.

HBU vs. Tarleton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HBU or Tarleton? 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 Tarleton State University than HBU ($16,159 vs. $21,282).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tarleton State University are 15.5% lower than at Houston Christian University ($10,920 vs. $12,928).
  • Houston Christian University is 374.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tarleton (about $31,128 more per year; $39,430.00 vs. $8,302.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 117.3% higher at HBU than at Tarleton State University (about $21,288 more per year; $39,430.00 vs. $18,142.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Houston Christian University than at Tarleton State University (100% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Houston Christian University students is 264.1% larger than aid received by Tarleton State University students ($28,870 vs. $7,929).

HBU vs. Tarleton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HBU or Tarleton? 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 Tarleton and HBU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Houston Christian University (1090) is 20 points higher than at Tarleton (1070).
  • Incoming Tarleton students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at HBU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Houston Christian University 990/1190; Tarleton State University 980/1160.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Houston Christian University 17/24; Tarleton State University 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HBU - Test optional; Tarleton - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tarleton Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HBU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Tarleton (3.21).
  • Tarleton has a higher acceptance rate (89.6%) than HBU (84.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.5% at HBU vs. 24.3% at Tarleton.

HBU vs. Tarleton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HBU and Tarleton? 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).

  • Houston Christian University's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than Tarleton State University's (39%).
  • Graduates from Houston Christian University earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than Tarleton graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,600 vs. $45,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tarleton State University graduates have a $4,416 lower median loan debt than HBU graduates ($19,750 vs. $24,166).
  • Among borrowers, Tarleton graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HBU graduates ($204 vs. $249).
  • More Tarleton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HBU students, three years after graduation. (56% 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.