Texas Southern University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and in-state Texas residents. graduation rate is below 25% — most students don't finish here; median debt is moderately high. 72% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
Texas Southern University is a public institution located in Houston, Texas with approximately 6,844 undergraduate students enrolled. Texas Southern University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 97%. The average net price after financial aid is $16,590 per year. The graduation rate is 22%, and the typical graduate earns $37,600 within 10 years of enrollment.
Texas Southern University is a public historically black university in Houston, Texas, United States. The university is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".
The numbers tell a mixed story here: while it's an accessible HBCU in Houston with real research activity and a manageable median debt of $16,250, the 20% graduation rate and 57% freshman retention rate are serious red flags that suggest many students struggle to finish. Worth considering if you're drawn to its Thurgood Marshall College Fund membership, strong legal and pre-professional programs, or the Houston network — but have an honest conversation about support systems and a clear plan to stay on track.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 8% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Texas Southern University graduates earn most above the national rate in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other ($62,728 vs $55,693 nationally), and most below it in Marketing ($41,768 vs $69,303).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 90 | $55,321 | $57,214 | −$1,893 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 68 | $45,961 | $55,378 | −$9,417 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 66 | $53,203 | $68,257 | −$15,054 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 61 | $44,953 | $53,072 | −$8,119 |
| Psychology, General | 55 | $47,185 | $50,706 | −$3,521 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 45 | $48,426 | $58,716 | −$10,290 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 41 | $56,482 | $54,562 | +$1,920 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 37 | $51,195 | $50,497 | +$698 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 33 | $62,728 | $55,693 | +$7,035 |
| Social Work | 32 | $49,871 | $51,790 | −$1,919 |
| Marketing | 31 | $41,768 | $69,303 | −$27,535 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 27 | $44,612 | $61,296 | −$16,684 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Worth scrutinizing. Median earnings relative to debt are tight.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (6,844 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Texas
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Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
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Texas A&M University-San Antonio
San Antonio, TX · Public
University of Houston-Clear Lake
Houston, TX · Public
Lamar University
Beaumont, TX · Public
See How Colleges Compare
Texas Southern University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Texas Southern University?
Texas Southern University has an acceptance rate of 97%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Texas Southern University hard to get into?
Not especially. Texas Southern University has an acceptance rate of 97%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Texas Southern University cost?
The average net price at Texas Southern University is about $16,590 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Texas Southern University?
Texas Southern University has a graduation rate of 22%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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