Tarleton vs. Marshall University

Deciding between Tarleton State University and Marshall 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.

Tarleton State University
Marshall University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tarleton Stephenville, TX
  • Marshall University Huntington, WV
  • Setting
  • Tarleton Remote Town
  • Marshall University Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Tarleton 17,433
  • Marshall University 11,958
  • Type
  • Tarleton Public 4 Year
  • Marshall University Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tarleton #914
  • Marshall University #868
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tarleton -
  • Marshall University -
  • Status
  • Tarleton Non-profit
  • Marshall University Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tarleton
  • Marshall University
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tarleton $8,302
  • Marshall University $9,162
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tarleton $18,142
  • Marshall University $20,342
  • Room & Board
  • Tarleton $10,920
  • Marshall University $13,292
  • Average Net Price
  • Tarleton $16,159
  • Marshall University $8,076
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tarleton $7,929
  • Marshall University $13,448
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tarleton 91%
  • Marshall University 97%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tarleton 13,705
  • Marshall University 6,816
  • Admitted
  • Tarleton 12,273
  • Marshall University 6,525
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tarleton 89.6%
  • Marshall University 95.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Tarleton 24.3%
  • Marshall University 28.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tarleton 1070
  • Marshall University 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tarleton 21
  • Marshall University 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tarleton 3.21
  • Marshall University 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tarleton B+
  • Marshall University A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tarleton Very Easy
  • Marshall University Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tarleton
  • Marshall University
  • ACT Range
  • Tarleton 19/24
  • Marshall University 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • Tarleton 980/1160
  • Marshall University 910/1150
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tarleton Test optional
  • Marshall University Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Tarleton Aug 1, 2027
  • Marshall University Aug 10, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tarleton 20:1
  • Marshall University 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tarleton
    • Business (20%)
    • General Studies (18%)
    • Agriculture (11%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Marshall University
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tarleton 39%
  • Marshall University 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tarleton $45,500
  • Marshall University $40,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tarleton 56%
  • Marshall University 43%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tarleton $19,750
  • Marshall University $23,134
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tarleton $204
  • Marshall University $239
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tarleton 38%
  • Marshall University 41%
  • % Women
  • Tarleton 62%
  • Marshall University 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tarleton Medium
  • Marshall University Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Tarleton No
  • Marshall University No
  • % White
  • Tarleton 68%
  • Marshall University 84%
  • % Asian
  • Tarleton 1%
  • Marshall University 1%
  • % Black
  • Tarleton 8%
  • Marshall University 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tarleton 18%
  • Marshall University 2%
  • % Native American
  • Tarleton 1%
  • Marshall University 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tarleton 0%
  • Marshall University 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tarleton 3%
  • Marshall University 3%
  • % International
  • Tarleton 0%
  • Marshall University 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tarleton 1%
  • Marshall University 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tarleton 97%
  • Marshall University 76%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tarleton 3%
  • Marshall University 23%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Tarleton State University is larger than Marshall University based on total student enrollment (17,433 students vs. 11,958 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Tarleton State University is located in Stephenville, TX (Remote Town setting); Marshall University is in Huntington, WV (Small City setting).
  • Tarleton State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Marshall University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Tarleton State University 20:1; Marshall University 16:1.

Tarleton vs. Marshall University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tarleton or Marshall University? 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 Marshall University than Tarleton ($8,076 vs. $16,159).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tarleton State University are 17.8% lower than at Marshall University ($10,920 vs. $13,292).
  • Marshall University is 10.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tarleton (about $860 more per year; $9,162.00 vs. $8,302.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.1% higher at Marshall University than at Tarleton State University (about $2,200 more per year; $20,342.00 vs. $18,142.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Marshall University than at Tarleton State University (97% vs. 91%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Marshall University students is 69.6% larger than aid received by Tarleton State University students ($13,448 vs. $7,929).

Tarleton vs. Marshall University Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tarleton State University (1070) is 40 points higher than at Marshall University (1030).
  • Incoming Tarleton students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 21) as students at Marshall University (21).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tarleton State University 980/1160; Marshall University 910/1150.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tarleton State University 19/24; Marshall University 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tarleton - Test optional; Marshall University - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tarleton Aug 1, 2027; Marshall University Aug 10, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Marshall University students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Tarleton (3.21).
  • Marshall University has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Tarleton (89.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.3% at Tarleton vs. 28.1% at Marshall University.

Tarleton vs. Marshall University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tarleton and Marshall University? 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).

  • Marshall University's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Tarleton State University's (39%).
  • Graduates from Tarleton State University earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than Marshall University graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,500 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tarleton State University graduates have a $3,384 lower median loan debt than Marshall University graduates ($19,750 vs. $23,134).
  • Among borrowers, Tarleton graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Marshall University graduates ($204 vs. $239).
  • More Tarleton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Marshall University students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 43%)

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.