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Texas Tech University

Texas Tech University says yes to 72.7% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $62,454 median earnings.

72.7%
acceptance rate · latest federal cohort
Test-optional (considered)
400SAT middle 50%: 1090–12701600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Texas Tech University sits in Lubbock proper — a public campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it.

Its highest-earning path is Petroleum Engineering, where graduates median $139,864 four years out. 27.8% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. Most of its 32,394 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 85% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.

Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1090 and 1270 — above the TX middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Texas Tech University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Admissions

In the Fall 2023 cycle, Texas Tech University received 34,020 applications and admitted 24,116 (70.9%), with 7,217 enrolling.

Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1090–1270 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Texas Tech University's own policy says you can leave it out.

Score25th50th75th
SAT Reading & Writing550590640
SAT Math540580630
ACT Composite222528

Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).

How Texas Tech University compares

Texas Tech UniversityTexas medianNational median
Acceptance rate72.7%84.4%77.2%
Tuition (in-state)$11,852$13,498$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)$62,454$54,132$53,781

Earnings data favors Texas Tech University: $62,454 median at year ten, versus $54,132 across Texas institutions.

Cost, size & completion

In-state students pay $11,852 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $24,451. For non-residents, Texas Tech University's $24,451 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.

Texas Tech University is a big school: 32,394 undergraduates at last count.

68.7% graduate within six years. Roughly 31% don't — ask a Texas Tech University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.

Top majors by earnings at Texas Tech University

Bachelor's programMedian earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Petroleum Engineering$139,864
Computer and Information Sciences, General$113,062
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$107,110
Construction Engineering$102,312
Chemical Engineering$99,747
Industrial Engineering$98,266
Mechanical Engineering$98,113
Computer Engineering$92,615
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering$90,143
Civil Engineering$89,969
Accounting and Related Services$89,891
Science, Technology and Society$88,953
Finance and Financial Management Services$86,795
Business/Commerce, General$86,278
Information Science/Studies$81,289
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies$78,435
Business Administration, Management and Operations$75,702
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences$74,591
Marketing$72,953
Chemistry$70,673
Agricultural Business and Management$69,689
Mathematics$69,664
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology$69,628
Economics$68,973
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations$66,440
Interior Architecture$64,751
Architecture$63,871
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$63,013
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services$62,457
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication$62,247
Nutrition Sciences$62,087
Geography and Cartography$60,831
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$60,563
Political Science and Government$59,466
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$59,001
Social Work$58,441
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$58,375
Communication and Media Studies$58,196
Biology, General$57,789
Agriculture, General$57,343
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$57,262
Hospitality Administration/Management$57,221
Music$57,043
International/Globalization Studies$56,496
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General$56,117
Animal Sciences$55,753
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services$54,498
Journalism$53,206
Psychology, General$53,051
History$52,969
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services$51,921
Sociology$51,527
Fine and Studio Arts$50,892
English Language and Literature, General$50,849
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication$50,279
Agricultural Public Services$50,248
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$48,134
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$47,290
Anthropology$42,913
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$30,074

Median earnings for these 60 Texas Tech University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $62,454 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 22 additional Texas Tech University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What GPA and test scores do you need for Texas Tech University?

Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1090–1270 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 72.7% admission rate to judge your odds.

What is Texas Tech University's acceptance rate?

70.9% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 24,116 admitted from 34,020 applicants.

How much does Texas Tech University cost?

In-state tuition is $11,852; out-of-state students pay $24,451. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What do Texas Tech University graduates earn?

Federal data puts median earnings at $62,454 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.

Similar colleges in Texas

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.