Tarleton vs. Texas Tech

Deciding between Tarleton State University and Texas Tech 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.

Tarleton State University
Texas Tech University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tarleton Stephenville, TX
  • Texas Tech Lubbock, TX
  • Setting
  • Tarleton Remote Town
  • Texas Tech Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Tarleton 17,433
  • Texas Tech 40,757
  • Type
  • Tarleton Public 4 Year
  • Texas Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tarleton #914
  • Texas Tech #448
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tarleton -
  • Texas Tech -
  • Status
  • Tarleton Non-profit
  • Texas Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tarleton
  • Texas Tech
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tarleton $8,302
  • Texas Tech $11,852
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tarleton $18,142
  • Texas Tech $24,451
  • Room & Board
  • Tarleton $10,920
  • Texas Tech $10,742
  • Average Net Price
  • Tarleton $16,159
  • Texas Tech $16,919
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tarleton $7,929
  • Texas Tech $10,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tarleton 91%
  • Texas Tech 79%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tarleton 13,705
  • Texas Tech 34,356
  • Admitted
  • Tarleton 12,273
  • Texas Tech 24,958
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tarleton 89.6%
  • Texas Tech 72.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Tarleton 24.3%
  • Texas Tech 27.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tarleton 1070
  • Texas Tech 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tarleton 21
  • Texas Tech 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tarleton 3.21
  • Texas Tech 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tarleton B+
  • Texas Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tarleton Very Easy
  • Texas Tech Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tarleton
  • Texas Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • Tarleton 19/24
  • Texas Tech 23/28
  • SAT Range
  • Tarleton 980/1160
  • Texas Tech 1090/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tarleton Test optional
  • Texas Tech Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Tarleton Aug 1, 2027
  • Texas Tech
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tarleton 20:1
  • Texas Tech 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tarleton
    • Business (20%)
    • General Studies (18%)
    • Agriculture (11%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Texas Tech
    • Business (23%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tarleton 39%
  • Texas Tech 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tarleton $45,500
  • Texas Tech $58,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tarleton 56%
  • Texas Tech 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tarleton $19,750
  • Texas Tech $22,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tarleton $204
  • Texas Tech $232
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tarleton 38%
  • Texas Tech 49%
  • % Women
  • Tarleton 62%
  • Texas Tech 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tarleton Medium
  • Texas Tech High
  • HBCU
  • Tarleton No
  • Texas Tech No
  • % White
  • Tarleton 68%
  • Texas Tech 60%
  • % Asian
  • Tarleton 1%
  • Texas Tech 2%
  • % Black
  • Tarleton 8%
  • Texas Tech 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tarleton 18%
  • Texas Tech 23%
  • % Native American
  • Tarleton 1%
  • Texas Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tarleton 0%
  • Texas Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tarleton 3%
  • Texas Tech 3%
  • % International
  • Tarleton 0%
  • Texas Tech 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tarleton 1%
  • Texas Tech 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tarleton 97%
  • Texas Tech 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tarleton 3%
  • Texas Tech 8%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX with Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Texas Tech University is larger than Tarleton based on total student enrollment (40,757 students vs. 17,433 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Tarleton State University is located in Stephenville, TX (Remote Town setting); Texas Tech University is in Lubbock, TX (Midsize City setting).
  • Tarleton State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas Tech University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Tarleton State University 20:1; Texas Tech University 20:1.

Tarleton vs. Texas Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tarleton or Texas Tech? 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 Tarleton State University than Texas Tech ($16,159 vs. $16,919).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Texas Tech University are 1.6% lower than at Tarleton State University ($10,742 vs. $10,920).
  • Texas Tech University is 42.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tarleton (about $3,550 more per year; $11,852.00 vs. $8,302.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 34.8% higher at Texas Tech than at Tarleton State University (about $6,309 more per year; $24,451.00 vs. $18,142.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tarleton State University than at Texas Tech University (91% vs. 79%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Texas Tech University students is 32.3% larger than aid received by Tarleton State University students ($10,494 vs. $7,929).

Tarleton vs. Texas Tech Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Texas Tech University (1190) is 120 points higher than at Tarleton (1070).
  • Incoming Texas Tech students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 21 at Tarleton).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tarleton State University 980/1160; Texas Tech University 1090/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tarleton State University 19/24; Texas Tech University 23/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tarleton - Test optional; Texas Tech - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tarleton Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Texas Tech students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at Tarleton (3.21).
  • Tarleton has a higher acceptance rate (89.6%) than Texas Tech (72.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.3% at Tarleton vs. 27.1% at Texas Tech.

Tarleton vs. Texas Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Tarleton and Texas Tech? 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 Tech University's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than Tarleton State University's (39%).
  • Graduates from Texas Tech University earn a median of about $13,000 more per year than Tarleton graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,500 vs. $45,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tarleton State University graduates have a $2,750 lower median loan debt than Texas Tech graduates ($19,750 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Tarleton graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Texas Tech graduates ($204 vs. $232).
  • More Texas Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tarleton students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 56%)

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.