ISU vs. TSU

Deciding between Idaho State University and Texas Southern 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.

Idaho State University
Texas Southern University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Pocatello, ID
  • TSU Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • TSU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 13,061
  • TSU 8,704
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • TSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU
  • TSU #1020
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • TSU -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • TSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • TSU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $8,610
  • TSU $9,173
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $27,720
  • TSU $21,473
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $7,882
  • TSU $12,800
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $12,174
  • TSU $13,584
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $9,217
  • TSU $9,823
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 91%
  • TSU 95%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU -
  • TSU 9,391
  • Admitted
  • ISU -
  • TSU 9,101
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU Open
  • TSU 96.9%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU Open
  • TSU 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU
  • TSU 900
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU
  • TSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.41
  • TSU 3.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU B+
  • TSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Unavailable
  • TSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • TSU
  • ACT Range
  • ISU
  • TSU 15/19
  • SAT Range
  • ISU
  • TSU 800/1000
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Open admission
  • TSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • TSU Jul 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 14:1
  • TSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Health Professions (24%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • TSU
    • Business (20%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 26%
  • TSU 12%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $42,300
  • TSU $36,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 47%
  • TSU 22%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $22,950
  • TSU $29,358
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $237
  • TSU $303
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 41%
  • TSU 35%
  • % Women
  • ISU 59%
  • TSU 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Medium
  • TSU Low
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • TSU Yes
  • % White
  • ISU 67%
  • TSU 2%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 1%
  • TSU 2%
  • % Black
  • ISU 1%
  • TSU 80%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 10%
  • TSU 6%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 1%
  • TSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • TSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 3%
  • TSU 0%
  • % International
  • ISU 14%
  • TSU 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 2%
  • TSU 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 84%
  • TSU 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 8%
  • TSU 20%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID with Texas Southern University in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Idaho State University is larger than TSU based on total student enrollment (13,061 students vs. 8,704 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Idaho State University is located in Pocatello, ID (Small City setting); Texas Southern University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Idaho State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas Southern University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Idaho State University 14:1; Texas Southern University 19:1.

ISU vs. TSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU or TSU? 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 Idaho State University than TSU ($12,174 vs. $13,584).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Idaho State University are 38.4% lower than at Texas Southern University ($7,882 vs. $12,800).
  • Texas Southern University is 6.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $563 more per year; $9,173.00 vs. $8,610.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29.1% higher at ISU than at Texas Southern University (about $6,247 more per year; $27,720.00 vs. $21,473.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Texas Southern University than at Idaho State University (95% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Texas Southern University students is 6.6% larger than aid received by Idaho State University students ($9,823 vs. $9,217).

ISU vs. TSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU or TSU? 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 TSU and ISU.

  • Idaho State University reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsTexas Southern University 800/1000.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsTexas Southern University 15/19.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Open admission; TSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: TSU Jul 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at TSU (3.0).

ISU vs. TSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU and TSU? 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).

  • Idaho State University's six-year graduation rate (26%) is higher than Texas Southern University's (12%).
  • Graduates from Idaho State University earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than TSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,300 vs. $36,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Idaho State University graduates have a $6,408 lower median loan debt than TSU graduates ($22,950 vs. $29,358).
  • Among borrowers, ISU graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TSU graduates ($237 vs. $303).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TSU students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 22%)

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.