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Texas State University
Admission at Texas State University is close to open (89.3%), which shifts the homework to outcomes: check the $56,906 median earnings below before the application.
Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →
Texas State University sits in San Marcos proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $104,127 four years out. 37.2% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 36,177 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 80.1% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 980 and 1190 — near the TX middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Texas State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Texas State University received 37,183 applications and admitted 33,273 (89.5%), with 7,930 enrolling.
Texas State University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 980–1190 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Texas State University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 500 | 553 | 610 |
| SAT Math | 480 | 531 | 580 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 23 | 26 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Texas State University compares
| Texas State University | Texas median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 89.3% | 84.4% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $11,450 | $13,498 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $56,906 | $54,132 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Texas State University: $56,906 median at year ten, versus $54,132 across Texas institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $11,450 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $22,930. For non-residents, Texas State University's $22,930 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
Texas State University is a big school: 36,177 undergraduates at last count.
55.3% graduate within six years. Roughly 45% don't — ask a Texas State University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Texas State University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $104,127 |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $100,352 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $94,780 |
| Industrial Engineering | $90,729 |
| Manufacturing Engineering | $88,995 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $84,557 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $79,289 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General | $78,671 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $78,418 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $77,701 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $75,100 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $74,435 |
| Applied Mathematics | $72,464 |
| Economics | $71,739 |
| Marketing | $71,539 |
| Agriculture, General | $71,237 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $68,940 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $67,048 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $66,995 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | $65,502 |
| Physics | $65,217 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $64,830 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $61,539 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $60,976 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $60,895 |
| Geography and Cartography | $60,646 |
| Public Administration | $59,074 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $59,009 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $58,794 |
| Mathematics | $58,566 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $58,484 |
| Chemistry | $58,396 |
| Journalism | $57,963 |
| Political Science and Government | $56,716 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $55,832 |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | $55,625 |
| Biology, General | $55,605 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $55,595 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $54,541 |
| Public Health | $54,229 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $54,099 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $54,053 |
| Sociology | $53,434 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $53,407 |
| Dance | $53,057 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $53,009 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $52,836 |
| Social Work | $52,766 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $52,447 |
| History | $52,329 |
| Music | $52,320 |
| Animal Sciences | $51,157 |
| Philosophy | $50,768 |
| Psychology, General | $50,549 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $50,151 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $49,987 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $49,571 |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | $49,406 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $48,502 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | $47,752 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $47,634 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $44,934 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $43,943 |
| Anthropology | $40,706 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $39,473 |
Median earnings for these 65 Texas State University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $56,906 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 11 additional Texas State University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Texas State University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 980–1190 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 89.3% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Texas State University's acceptance rate?
89.5% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 33,273 admitted from 37,183 applicants.
How much does Texas State University cost?
In-state tuition is $11,450; out-of-state students pay $22,930. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Texas State University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $56,906 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Texas
- Stephen F Austin State University — 94% admitted
- Sul Ross State University — 98.7% admitted
- Tarleton State University — 89.5% admitted
- Nelson University — 89% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.