PublicUrbanHBCUTexas Southern University
TSU
Houston, Texas 77004
Data last updated: August 29, 2026
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.
Rankings
More About This School
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
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Admissions
SAT Score Ranges
Average: 913
ACT Score Range
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.
Typical Application Requirements
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker Price
Net Price by Family Income
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
Programs (80)
Outcomes
Median Earnings After Graduation
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.
Student Life
Student Satisfaction
Retention Rate
57%
Student Body
Race & Ethnicity
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)
Burglary
Aggravated Assault
Robbery
Motor Vehicle Theft
Sex Offenses
Arson
Drug Arrests
Liquor Arrests
Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).
Location & Lifestyle
Cost of Living
Estimated from TX state average + large city premium