NSU vs. Tarleton

Deciding between Northeastern State University and Tarleton State 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.

Northeastern State University
Tarleton State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • NSU Tahlequah, OK
  • Tarleton Stephenville, TX
  • Setting
  • NSU Remote Town
  • Tarleton Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • NSU 6,751
  • Tarleton 17,433
  • Type
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • Tarleton Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NSU #1039
  • Tarleton #914
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NSU -
  • Tarleton -
  • Status
  • NSU Non-profit
  • Tarleton Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NSU
  • Tarleton
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NSU $7,810
  • Tarleton $8,302
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NSU $17,290
  • Tarleton $18,142
  • Room & Board
  • NSU $11,120
  • Tarleton $10,920
  • Average Net Price
  • NSU $12,410
  • Tarleton $16,159
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NSU $8,893
  • Tarleton $7,929
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NSU 83%
  • Tarleton 91%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NSU 1,727
  • Tarleton 13,705
  • Admitted
  • NSU 1,720
  • Tarleton 12,273
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NSU 99.6%
  • Tarleton 89.6%
  • Enrolled
  • NSU 39%
  • Tarleton 24.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NSU 1000
  • Tarleton 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • NSU 20
  • Tarleton 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • NSU 3.49
  • Tarleton 3.21
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NSU B+
  • Tarleton B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • Tarleton Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • NSU
  • Tarleton
  • ACT Range
  • NSU 18/23
  • Tarleton 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • NSU 866/1136
  • Tarleton 980/1160
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NSU Test optional
  • Tarleton Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NSU
  • Tarleton Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NSU 16:1
  • Tarleton 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NSU
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Tarleton
    • Business (20%)
    • General Studies (18%)
    • Agriculture (11%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NSU 26%
  • Tarleton 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NSU $40,200
  • Tarleton $45,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NSU 48%
  • Tarleton 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NSU $18,000
  • Tarleton $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NSU $186
  • Tarleton $204
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NSU 35%
  • Tarleton 38%
  • % Women
  • NSU 65%
  • Tarleton 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NSU High
  • Tarleton Medium
  • HBCU
  • NSU No
  • Tarleton No
  • % White
  • NSU 50%
  • Tarleton 68%
  • % Asian
  • NSU 2%
  • Tarleton 1%
  • % Black
  • NSU 4%
  • Tarleton 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • NSU 5%
  • Tarleton 18%
  • % Native American
  • NSU 19%
  • Tarleton 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NSU 0%
  • Tarleton 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NSU 17%
  • Tarleton 3%
  • % International
  • NSU 2%
  • Tarleton 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NSU 1%
  • Tarleton 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NSU 88%
  • Tarleton 97%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NSU 8%
  • Tarleton 3%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • NSU Yes
  • Tarleton Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • NSU No
  • Tarleton Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • NSU Yes
  • Tarleton Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • NSU Yes
  • Tarleton No
  • Daycare Facility
  • NSU No
  • Tarleton Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK with Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Tarleton State University is larger than NSU based on total student enrollment (17,433 students vs. 6,751 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern State University is located in Tahlequah, OK (Remote Town setting); Tarleton State University is in Stephenville, TX (Remote Town setting).
  • Northeastern State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Tarleton State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern State University 16:1; Tarleton State University 20:1.

NSU vs. Tarleton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSU or Tarleton? 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 Northeastern State University than Tarleton ($12,410 vs. $16,159).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tarleton State University are 1.8% lower than at Northeastern State University ($10,920 vs. $11,120).
  • Tarleton State University is 6.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSU (about $492 more per year; $8,302.00 vs. $7,810.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at Tarleton than at Northeastern State University (about $852 more per year; $18,142.00 vs. $17,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tarleton State University than at Northeastern State University (91% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern State University students is 12.2% larger than aid received by Tarleton State University students ($8,893 vs. $7,929).

NSU vs. Tarleton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NSU or Tarleton? 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 Tarleton and NSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tarleton State University (1070) is 70 points higher than at NSU (1000).
  • Incoming Tarleton students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at NSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern State University 866/1136; Tarleton State University 980/1160.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern State University 18/23; Tarleton State University 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NSU - Test optional; Tarleton - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tarleton Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Tarleton (3.21).
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (99.6%) than Tarleton (89.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 39% at NSU vs. 24.3% at Tarleton.

NSU vs. Tarleton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NSU and Tarleton? 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).

  • Tarleton State University's six-year graduation rate (39%) is higher than Northeastern State University's (26%).
  • Graduates from Tarleton State University earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than NSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,500 vs. $40,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northeastern State University graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Tarleton graduates ($18,000 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, NSU graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tarleton graduates ($186 vs. $204).
  • More Tarleton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 48%)

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.