HBU vs. TLU

Deciding between Houston Christian 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.

Houston Christian University
Texas Lutheran University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • HBU Houston, TX
  • TLU Seguin, TX
  • Setting
  • HBU Large City
  • TLU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • HBU 4,276
  • TLU 1,423
  • Type
  • HBU Private 4 Year
  • TLU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HBU #837
  • TLU #629
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HBU Southern Baptist
  • TLU American Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • HBU Non-profit
  • TLU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HBU
  • TLU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HBU $39,430
  • TLU $36,230
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HBU $39,430
  • TLU $36,230
  • Room & Board
  • HBU $12,928
  • TLU $12,350
  • Average Net Price
  • HBU $21,282
  • TLU $25,119
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HBU $28,870
  • TLU $24,861
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HBU 100%
  • TLU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HBU 8,455
  • TLU 2,306
  • Admitted
  • HBU 7,139
  • TLU 2,207
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HBU 84.4%
  • TLU 95.7%
  • Enrolled
  • HBU 10.5%
  • TLU 16.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HBU 1090
  • TLU 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • HBU 20
  • TLU 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • HBU 3.46
  • TLU 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HBU B+
  • TLU A
  • Admissions Standards
  • HBU Easy
  • TLU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • HBU
  • TLU
  • ACT Range
  • HBU 17/24
  • TLU 22/28
  • SAT Range
  • HBU 990/1190
  • TLU 1030/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HBU Test optional
  • TLU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • HBU
  • TLU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HBU 18:1
  • TLU 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HBU
    • Business (21%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • TLU
    • Business (25%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HBU 45%
  • TLU 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HBU $51,600
  • TLU $49,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HBU 54%
  • TLU 67%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HBU $24,166
  • TLU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HBU $249
  • TLU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HBU 36%
  • TLU 46%
  • % Women
  • HBU 64%
  • TLU 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HBU Very High
  • TLU High
  • HBCU
  • HBU No
  • TLU No
  • % White
  • HBU 27%
  • TLU 55%
  • % Asian
  • HBU 10%
  • TLU 1%
  • % Black
  • HBU 19%
  • TLU 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • HBU 30%
  • TLU 32%
  • % Native American
  • HBU 0%
  • TLU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HBU 0%
  • TLU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HBU 5%
  • TLU 0%
  • % International
  • HBU 4%
  • TLU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HBU 4%
  • TLU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HBU 91%
  • TLU 100%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HBU 6%
  • TLU 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Houston Christian University is larger than TLU based on total student enrollment (4,276 students vs. 1,423 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Houston Christian University is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); Texas Lutheran University is in Seguin, TX (Distant Town setting).
  • Houston Christian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas Lutheran University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Houston Christian University 18:1; Texas Lutheran University 11:1.

HBU vs. TLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HBU 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 Houston Christian University than TLU ($21,282 vs. $25,119).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Texas Lutheran University are 4.5% lower than at Houston Christian University ($12,350 vs. $12,928).
  • Houston Christian University is 8.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than TLU (about $3,200 more per year; $39,430.00 vs. $36,230.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.8% higher at HBU than at Texas Lutheran University (about $3,200 more per year; $39,430.00 vs. $36,230.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Houston Christian University as at Texas Lutheran University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Houston Christian University students is 16.1% larger than aid received by Texas Lutheran University students ($28,870 vs. $24,861).

HBU vs. TLU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HBU 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 HBU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Texas Lutheran University (1130) is 40 points higher than at HBU (1090).
  • Incoming TLU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 20 at HBU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Houston Christian University 990/1190; Texas Lutheran University 1030/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Houston Christian University 17/24; Texas Lutheran University 22/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HBU - Test optional; TLU - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman TLU students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at HBU (3.46).
  • TLU has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than HBU (84.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.5% at HBU vs. 16.8% at TLU.

HBU vs. TLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HBU 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).

  • Texas Lutheran University's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Houston Christian University's (45%).
  • Graduates from Houston Christian University earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than TLU graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,600 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Houston Christian University graduates have a $2,834 lower median loan debt than TLU graduates ($24,166 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, HBU graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TLU graduates ($249 vs. $279).
  • More TLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HBU 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.