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PublicUrbanHBCU

Texas Southern University

TSU

Houston, Texas 77004

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

UrbanHBCU

Known for business

Texas Southern University is a public institution in Houston with particular strength in business and health sciences. With an average SAT of 913, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A mid-sized campus of 6.6K undergraduates with a 16:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

20% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $38,924 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $19,734.

Established
1927
Motto
Excellence in Achievement
Mascot
Tiger
Type
Public historically black university
Division
Division I

Plan Your Visit

93%Acceptance
913SAT Avg
6,619Students
16:1Student:Faculty
20%Grad Rate
$38,924Earnings 10yr
$19,734Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate93.3%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 913

Reading & WritingMid: 465
420510
MathMid: 445
380490

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 17
1519

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$9,173
Tuition (out-of-state)$21,773
Room & Board$10,914
Books & Supplies$1,654
Total Cost of Attendance$24,899
Average Net Price$19,734
Median Debt at Graduation$29,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$307

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$19,738
$30–48K$19,676
$48–75K$19,237

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

35.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

-0.1%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$16,250

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

50

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

13

Burglary

3

Aggravated Assault

2

Robbery

4

Motor Vehicle Theft

5

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

13

Drug Arrests

10

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (80)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

57%

Below Average

Student Body

Undergrads
6,619
Gender Split
66% / 34%
Women / Men
First Generation
39%
Pell Grant Recipients
71%

Race & Ethnicity

White 1%
Black 86%
Hispanic 7%
Asian 1%
Two+ 3%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate19.9%
Freshman Retention57.0%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$32,986
10 Years$38,924

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#395
vs 2024
Washington Monthly
#369
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

Varsity sports

History & Fun Facts

  • History On March 7, 1927, the Houston Independent School District board resolved to establish junior colleges for each race, as the state was racially segregated in all public facilities.
  • The school's name was later changed to Houston College for Negroes in 1934.
  • In February 1946, Heman Marion Sweatt, an African American man, applied to the University of Texas School of Law.
  • The school was established to serve African Americans in Texas and offer them fields of study comparable to those available to white Texans.
  • Houston College moved to the present site (adjacent to the University of Houston), which was donated by Hugh Roy Cullen.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

106Above Average

Estimated from TX state average + large city premium

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 0"Sunny days: 240Rainy days: 85

Nearest Cities

Houstonpop. 2.3M
3 mi(5 min)
Austinpop. 960K
147 mi(255 min)
San Antoniopop. 1.5M
189 mi(328 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

IAH Houston Intercontinental19 mi
AUS Austin142 mi
SAT San Antonio187 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1605 mi · ~46h 22m drive
New York, NY1419 mi · ~41h drive
Hartford, CT1513 mi · ~43h 43m drive
Providence, RI1573 mi · ~45h 27m drive
Albany, NY1493 mi · ~43h 8m drive
Syracuse, NY1405 mi · ~40h 35m drive
Rochester, NY1349 mi · ~38h 58m drive
Buffalo, NY1288 mi · ~37h 13m drive
Philadelphia, PA1341 mi · ~38h 44m drive
Pittsburgh, PA1139 mi · ~32h 54m drive
Harrisburg, PA1271 mi · ~36h 43m drive
Newark, NJ1412 mi · ~40h 47m drive
Washington, DC1220 mi · ~35h 15m drive
Baltimore, MD1252 mi · ~36h 10m drive
Atlanta, GA702 mi · ~20h 17m drive
Charlotte, NC927 mi · ~26h 47m drive
Raleigh, NC1056 mi · ~30h 30m drive
Miami, FL966 mi · ~27h 54m drive
Orlando, FL847 mi · ~24h 28m drive
Tampa, FL790 mi · ~22h 49m drive
Nashville, TN667 mi · ~19h 16m drive
New Orleans, LA317 mi · ~9h 9m drive
Richmond, VA1161 mi · ~33h 32m drive
Chicago, IL944 mi · ~27h 16m drive
Detroit, MI1108 mi · ~32h 1m drive
Minneapolis, MN1060 mi · ~30h 37m drive
St. Louis, MO682 mi · ~19h 42m drive
Kansas City, MO650 mi · ~18h 47m drive
Indianapolis, IN868 mi · ~25h 5m drive
Columbus, OH994 mi · ~28h 43m drive
Cleveland, OH1116 mi · ~32h 14m drive
Milwaukee, WI1008 mi · ~29h 7m drive
Dallas, TX228 mi · ~6h 35m drive
Houston, TX3 mi · ~5 min drive
Austin, TX147 mi · ~4h 15m drive
San Antonio, TX189 mi · ~5h 28m drive
Los Angeles, CA1372 mi · ~39h 38m drive
San Francisco, CA1644 mi · ~47h 30m drive
San Diego, CA1302 mi · ~37h 37m drive
Seattle, WA1892 mi · ~54h 39m drive
Portland, OR1836 mi · ~53h 2m drive
Denver, CO881 mi · ~25h 27m drive
Phoenix, AZ1016 mi · ~29h 21m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1201 mi · ~34h 42m drive
Honolulu, HI3895 mi · ~112h 31m drive
Deep South / Subtropical (warm winters, hot summers)

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