Tarleton State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Stephenville, Texas. It enrolls 12,673 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
56/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes31
Value45
Affordability51
Selectivity20
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 89.6%, Tarleton State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
89.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
980 – 1160
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
19 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Tarleton State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
38.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Tarleton State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,783 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$20,783
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
34%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
40%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$8,302
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$18,142
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,920
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,292
Books & Supplies
$1,248
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,882
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,882
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,100
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$15,574
$30,001 – $48,000
$16,980
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,396
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,466
Over $110,000
$24,076
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,25010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$19,606Medianpercentile
$23,56175%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,219
↓ $4,387
No Pell $12,000
↓ $7,606
Dependent students $13,000
↓ $6,606
Independent students $16,284
↓ $3,322
Female students $14,125
↓ $5,481
Male students $13,000
↓ $6,606
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($19,606), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
48% of full-time students who enrolled at Tarleton State University graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
48%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Tarleton State University earn a median of $53,040 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$53,040
Earning > $25K
81%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$40,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$57,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$48,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $16,600, about 29% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
18.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Tarleton State University is home to 12,673 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 42% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
12,673
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
42%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 62.8%7,954
Hispanic 24.3%3,082
Black 5.7%722
Other 4.1%513
Asian 1.4%176
International 0.6%81
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Tarleton State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteStephenville, Texas
Housing
Partly residential4,202 beds available
Adult Learners
15%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Tarleton State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
89 distinct programs across
25 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Tarleton State University is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,467
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$96M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$73,230
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
476 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
82
17%
$100,316
Associate Professors
123
26%
$81,572
Assistant Professors
126
26%
$68,421
Instructors
140
29%
$53,738
Lecturers
5
1%
$50,071
Pros & Cons of Tarleton State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Tarleton State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Tarleton State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Tarleton State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Tarleton State University.
Is Tarleton State University hard to get into?
Tarleton State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 89.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Tarleton State University?
Tarleton State University has an acceptance rate of 89.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Tarleton State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Tarleton State University scored between 980 and 1160 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Tarleton State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Tarleton State University scored between 19 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Tarleton State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Tarleton State University is $20,783 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Tarleton State University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $53,040 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,783 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Tarleton State University known for?
Tarleton State University is best known for its programs in Kinesiology, Business, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Tarleton State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Tarleton State University are $53,040, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Tarleton State University accredited?
Yes. Tarleton State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Tarleton State University?
Tarleton State University enrolls 12,673 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Tarleton State University?
Tarleton State University graduates 48% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Tarleton State University a public or private college?
Tarleton State University is a Public institution.
Where is Tarleton State University located?
Tarleton State University is located in Stephenville, Texas.
What programs does Tarleton State University offer?
Tarleton State University offers 89 distinct programs. The most popular include Kinesiology, Business, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Tarleton State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Tarleton State University is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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