Florida Southern vs. TCU

Deciding between Florida Southern College and Texas Christian University? 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.

Florida Southern College
Texas Christian University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Florida Southern Lakeland, FL
  • TCU Fort Worth, TX
  • Setting
  • Florida Southern Small City
  • TCU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Florida Southern 3,211
  • TCU 12,938
  • Type
  • Florida Southern Private 4 Year
  • TCU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Florida Southern #325
  • TCU #110
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Florida Southern United Methodist
  • TCU Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
  • Status
  • Florida Southern Non-profit
  • TCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Florida Southern
  • TCU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Florida Southern $44,040
  • TCU $61,740
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Florida Southern $44,040
  • TCU $61,740
  • Room & Board
  • Florida Southern $14,360
  • TCU $16,700
  • Average Net Price
  • Florida Southern $29,384
  • TCU $41,848
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Florida Southern $31,394
  • TCU $34,975
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Florida Southern 100%
  • TCU 80%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Florida Southern 10,800
  • TCU 22,307
  • Admitted
  • Florida Southern 6,957
  • TCU 9,925
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Florida Southern 64.4%
  • TCU 44.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Florida Southern 11%
  • TCU 24.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Florida Southern 1240
  • TCU 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • Florida Southern 27
  • TCU 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Florida Southern 3.73
  • TCU 3.68
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Florida Southern A-
  • TCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Florida Southern Difficult
  • TCU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Florida Southern Low
  • TCU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Florida Southern 25/30
  • TCU 26/31
  • SAT Range
  • Florida Southern 1150/1330
  • TCU 1140/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Florida Southern Test optional
  • TCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Florida Southern May 1, 2027
  • TCU Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Florida Southern 11:1
  • TCU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Florida Southern
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • TCU
    • Business (22%)
    • Communication (18%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Florida Southern 55%
  • TCU 74%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Florida Southern $42,700
  • TCU $57,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Florida Southern 65%
  • TCU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Florida Southern $24,000
  • TCU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Florida Southern $248
  • TCU $222
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Florida Southern 35%
  • TCU 39%
  • % Women
  • Florida Southern 65%
  • TCU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Florida Southern Low
  • TCU Low
  • HBCU
  • Florida Southern No
  • TCU No
  • % White
  • Florida Southern 74%
  • TCU 73%
  • % Asian
  • Florida Southern 2%
  • TCU 3%
  • % Black
  • Florida Southern 6%
  • TCU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Florida Southern 11%
  • TCU 11%
  • % Native American
  • Florida Southern 1%
  • TCU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Florida Southern 0%
  • TCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Florida Southern 2%
  • TCU 0%
  • % International
  • Florida Southern 4%
  • TCU 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Florida Southern 1%
  • TCU 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Florida Southern 60%
  • TCU 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Florida Southern 38%
  • TCU 51%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Florida Southern Yes
  • TCU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Florida Southern No
  • TCU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Florida Southern Yes
  • TCU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Florida Southern Yes
  • TCU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Florida Southern No
  • TCU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL with Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Texas Christian University is larger than Florida Southern based on total student enrollment (12,938 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Florida Southern College is located in Lakeland, FL (Small City setting); Texas Christian University is in Fort Worth, TX (Large City setting).
  • Florida Southern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas Christian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida Southern College 11:1; Texas Christian University 14:1.

Florida Southern vs. TCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida Southern or TCU? 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 Florida Southern College than TCU ($29,384 vs. $41,848).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Southern College are 14% lower than at Texas Christian University ($14,360 vs. $16,700).
  • Texas Christian University is 40.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Florida Southern (about $17,700 more per year; $61,740.00 vs. $44,040.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.2% higher at TCU than at Florida Southern College (about $17,700 more per year; $61,740.00 vs. $44,040.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Florida Southern College than at Texas Christian University (100% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Texas Christian University students is 11.4% larger than aid received by Florida Southern College students ($34,975 vs. $31,394).

Florida Southern vs. TCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida Southern or TCU? 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 TCU and Florida Southern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Texas Christian University (1250) is 10 points higher than at Florida Southern (1240).
  • Incoming TCU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at Florida Southern).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 1150/1330; Texas Christian University 1140/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 25/30; Texas Christian University 26/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florida Southern - Test optional; TCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Florida Southern May 1, 2027; TCU Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Florida Southern students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at TCU (3.68).
  • Florida Southern has a higher acceptance rate (64.4%) than TCU (44.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11% at Florida Southern vs. 24.7% at TCU.

Florida Southern vs. TCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florida Southern and TCU? 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 Christian University's six-year graduation rate (74%) is higher than Florida Southern College's (55%).
  • Graduates from Texas Christian University earn a median of about $14,900 more per year than Florida Southern graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,600 vs. $42,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Texas Christian University graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Florida Southern graduates ($21,500 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, TCU graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Florida Southern graduates ($222 vs. $248).
  • More TCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florida Southern students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 65%)

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.