TSU vs. South Texas College

Deciding between Texas Southern University and South Texas College? 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.

Texas Southern University
South Texas College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • TSU Houston, TX
  • South Texas College McAllen, TX
  • Setting
  • TSU Large City
  • South Texas College Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • TSU 8,704
  • South Texas College 27,431
  • Type
  • TSU Public 4 Year
  • South Texas College Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • TSU #1020
  • South Texas College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • TSU -
  • South Texas College -
  • Status
  • TSU Non-profit
  • South Texas College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • TSU
  • South Texas College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • TSU $9,173
  • South Texas College $4,920
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • TSU $21,473
  • South Texas College $7,620
  • Room & Board
  • TSU $12,800
  • South Texas College $8,638
  • Average Net Price
  • TSU $13,584
  • South Texas College $1,844
  • Average Grant Aid
  • TSU $9,823
  • South Texas College $7,547
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • TSU 95%
  • South Texas College 86%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • TSU 9,391
  • South Texas College -
  • Admitted
  • TSU 9,101
  • South Texas College -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • TSU 96.9%
  • South Texas College Open
  • Enrolled
  • TSU 17.9%
  • South Texas College Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • TSU 900
  • South Texas College
  • Typical ACT score
  • TSU 17
  • South Texas College
  • Average High School GPA
  • TSU 3.0
  • South Texas College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • TSU B
  • South Texas College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • TSU Extremely Easy
  • South Texas College Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • TSU
  • South Texas College
  • ACT Range
  • TSU 15/19
  • South Texas College
  • SAT Range
  • TSU 800/1000
  • South Texas College
  • Submit Test Scores
  • TSU Test optional
  • South Texas College Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • TSU Jul 15, 2027
  • South Texas College Jun 18, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • TSU 19:1
  • South Texas College 22:1
  • Popular Majors
  • TSU
    • Business (20%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • South Texas College
    • Health Professions (20%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (11%)
    • Business (10%)
    • General Studies (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • TSU 12%
  • South Texas College -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • TSU $36,200
  • South Texas College $34,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • TSU 22%
  • South Texas College -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • TSU $29,358
  • South Texas College N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • TSU $303
  • South Texas College N/A
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • TSU 35%
  • South Texas College 44%
  • % Women
  • TSU 65%
  • South Texas College 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • TSU Low
  • South Texas College Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • TSU Yes
  • South Texas College No
  • % White
  • TSU 2%
  • South Texas College 3%
  • % Asian
  • TSU 2%
  • South Texas College 1%
  • % Black
  • TSU 80%
  • South Texas College 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • TSU 6%
  • South Texas College 95%
  • % Native American
  • TSU 1%
  • South Texas College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • TSU 0%
  • South Texas College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • TSU 0%
  • South Texas College 0%
  • % International
  • TSU 8%
  • South Texas College 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • TSU 0%
  • South Texas College 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • TSU 78%
  • South Texas College 100%
  • % Out-of-State
  • TSU 20%
  • South Texas College 0%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

South Texas College is larger than TSU based on total student enrollment (27,431 students vs. 8,704 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Texas Southern University is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); South Texas College is in McAllen, TX (Midsize City setting).
  • Texas Southern University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. South Texas College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Texas Southern University 19:1; South Texas College 22:1.

TSU vs. South Texas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TSU or South Texas College? 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 South Texas College than TSU ($1,844 vs. $13,584).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Texas College are 32.5% lower than at Texas Southern University ($8,638 vs. $12,800).
  • Texas Southern University is 75.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than South Texas College (about $3,953 more per year; $9,173.00 vs. $5,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 181.8% higher at TSU than at South Texas College (about $13,853 more per year; $21,473.00 vs. $7,620.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Texas Southern University than at South Texas College (95% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Texas Southern University students is 30.2% larger than aid received by South Texas College students ($9,823 vs. $7,547).

TSU vs. South Texas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TSU or South Texas College? 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 South Texas College and TSU.

  • South Texas College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Texas Southern University 800/1000.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Texas Southern University 15/19.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: TSU - Test optional; South Texas College - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: TSU Jul 15, 2027; South Texas College Jun 18, 2027.

TSU vs. South Texas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TSU and South Texas College? 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).

  • Graduates from Texas Southern University earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than South Texas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.