TC vs. TSU

Comparable Facts

Compare Texas College in Tyler, TX with Texas Southern University in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Texas Southern University is larger than TC based on total student enrollment (8,704 students vs. 614 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Texas College is located in Tyler, TX (Small City setting); Texas Southern University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
• Texas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas Southern University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Texas College 17:1; Texas Southern University 19:1.

TC vs. TSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TC 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 Texas College than TSU ($10,958 vs. $13,584).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Texas College are 37.5% lower than at Texas Southern University ($8,000 vs. $12,800).
• Texas College is 9.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than TSU (about $835 more per year; $10,008.00 vs. $9,173.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 114.6% higher at TSU than at Texas College (about $11,465 more per year; $21,473.00 vs. $10,008.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Texas Southern University than at Texas College (95% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Texas Southern University students is 4.7% larger than aid received by Texas College students ($9,823 vs. $9,381).

TC vs. TSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TC 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 TC.

• Texas College 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: TC - Open admission; TSU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: TSU Jul 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman TSU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.0) than students at TC (2.9).

TC vs. TSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TC 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).

• Texas Southern University's six-year graduation rate (12%) is higher than Texas College's (6%).
• Graduates from Texas Southern University earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than TC graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $27,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Texas Southern University graduates have a $1,642 lower median loan debt than TC graduates ($29,358 vs. $31,000).
• Among borrowers, TSU graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TC graduates ($303 vs. $320).
• More TSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TC students, three years after graduation. (22% vs. 14%)

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.