Texas Christian University vs. Texas Tech University

A side-by-side comparison of TCU and Texas Tech — acceptance rates (48.1% vs. 69.1%), SAT scores (1110–1330 vs. 1110–1260), tuition, financial aid, and majors, drawn from each school's official Common Data Set.

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TCUFort Worth, TX

Acceptance rate

Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.

48.1%acceptance rate
Applied
22,680
Admitted
10,906
Enrolled
2,754

Early decision

TCU offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.

Early Decision
Binding · I & II
Early Action
Non-binding
Restrictive EA
Not offered

Admit rate by application plan

% admitted
Early Decision68.1%
Regular Decision46.8%

~1.5× higher admit rate applying early.

ED Applications
1,373
ED Admitted
935

Standardized tests

TCU is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.

SAT Accepted?

ACT Accepted?

Test Optional?

SAT Scores

4001600
25th Percentile
1110
50th Percentile
1240
75th Percentile
1330

ACT Scores

136
25th Percentile
26
50th Percentile
30
75th Percentile
31

Class rank

Where TCU's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.

Top tenth of class45.6%
Top quarter of class77.9%
Top half of class94.6%

Based on the 36.5% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. TCU does not publish an average GPA.

Admissions factors

How TCU weighs each part of your application.

→ Importance

Rigor of High School Record

Academic GPA

Standardized Test Scores

Application Essay

Recommendations

Extracurricular Activities

Character / Personal Qualities

Talent / Ability

First Generation

Level of Applicant's Interest

Class Rank

Volunteer Work

Work Experience

Geographical Residence

State Residency

Alumni Relation

Racial / Ethnic Status

Religious Affiliation

Cost of attendance

Estimated full-time annual cost from TCU's Common Data Set.

$89,742
Tuition & Fees
$66,610
Room & Board
$18,780
Other Expenses
$4,352
Total
$89,742

Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.

What families actually pay

$0–30k~$18k
$30–48k~$17k
$48–75k~$18k
$75–110k~$35k
$110k+~$53k

Average net price — what was left to pay after grant aid — for students receiving federal financial aid.

% of undergrads with Pell grants14.3%

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Financial aid

Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.

Receiving Aid
40%
Avg. Package
$50,804
Avg. Need Met
79%

Popular majors

Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.

Business & Marketing
Communication & Journalism
Health Professions
Social Sciences
Psychology
Other
Business
32.6%
Comm/Journ
13%
Health Prof
10.8%
Social Sci
7.3%
Psychology
5.9%
Other
30.4%

Student-faculty ratio

The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.

13:1

Student outcomes

First-years who return93%
Graduate within six years86%
Median earnings, 4 yrs after graduation~$76k
Median federal loan debt at graduation~$22k

Median yearly income of former students who received federal aid, across every major, measured four years after graduating (2017–18 and 2018–19 graduates, earnings measured 2022–2023). Debt covers federal loans of students who completed.

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Programs

TCU’s most popular programs and median pay after graduation. Income data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

  • Nursing

    230 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$90kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$25k median debt
  • Finance

    200 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$111kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$19k median debt
  • Communication & Media Studies

    151 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$64kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$22k median debt
  • Psychology

    113 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$65kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$21k median debt
  • Economics

    103 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$89kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$20k median debt
Show all 26 programs
  • Biology

    84 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$64kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$21k median debt
  • Political Science

    79 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$75kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$22k median debt
  • Business Administration & Management

    72 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$107kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$24k median debt
  • Criminal Justice

    65 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$57kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$21k median debt
  • General EngineeringABET accreditedEngineering is accredited by ABET, the accreditor for engineering, computing, and applied science programs.

    49 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$94kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation~$23k median debt
  • Computer & Information Sciences

    33 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$77kmedian pay, 1 yr after graduation
  • Journalism

    22 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$59kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation
  • Music

    22 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation~$24k median debt
  • English

    19 degrees (2023-24)

    ~$65kmedian pay, 4 yrs after graduation
  • Kinesiology & Exercise Science

    17 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • History

    16 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Mathematics

    13 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Environmental Science & Natural Resources

    11 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

    11 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Education

    8 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Neuroscience

    8 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Fine & Studio Arts

    8 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Agricultural Business

    4 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Chemistry

    4 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Philosophy

    3 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation
  • Area Studies

    2 degrees (2023-24)

    Not publishedmedian pay after graduation

Median pay data is measured from graduates who received federal student aid.

Source: College Scorecard (2026) · IPEDS (2023-24) · ABET

Campus life

On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.

First-Years On Campus
96%
In Fraternities
51%
In Sororities
61%

Place

How the federal government classifies the area around the campus, and what a normal year of weather looks like there.

Setting
Large city
Location
Fort Worth, TX

Average temperature

Monthly high and low, °F
5933J
6337F
7045M
7852A
8562M
9370J
9773J
9873A
9065S
8154O
6944N
6036D
Snow a year
0 in
Precipitation a year
36 in
Days at 90°F or above
103
Days below 32°F
43

Thirty-year averages, measured at the nearest weather station rather than on campus — they describe the area, not the campus.

Source: IPEDS (HD2024) · NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, BENBROOK DAM, TX US station, 6.3 mi from campus

Enrollment by gender

38%
62%
Male
4,276
Female
6,876

Student diversity

Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.

White58.9%
Hispanic21.2%
Other12.8%
Black4.1%
Asian and Pacific Islander2.7%
Native American<1%
Texas TechLubbock, TX

Acceptance rate

Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.

Texas Tech CDSIn-state vs. out-of-state admit rates from Texas Tech CDS (Fall 2024).
69.1%acceptance rate
Applied
38,566
Admitted
26,634
Enrolled
7,579

Admit rate by residency

% admitted
In-state74.8%
22,194 admitted of 29,662 applicants
Out-of-state68.2%
2,317 admitted of 3,395 applicants
International33.6%
431 admitted of 1,281 applicants

Early admissions

Texas Tech does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.

Early Decision
Not offered
Early Action
Not offered
Restrictive EA
Not offered

Standardized tests

Texas Tech is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.

SAT Accepted?

ACT Accepted?

Test Optional?

SAT Scores

4001600
25th Percentile
1110
50th Percentile
1180
75th Percentile
1260

ACT Scores

136
25th Percentile
23
50th Percentile
25
75th Percentile
28

Class rank

Where Texas Tech's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.

Top tenth of class25%
Top quarter of class54.3%
Top half of class84.5%

Based on the 99.9% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Texas Tech does not publish an average GPA.

Admissions factors

How Texas Tech weighs each part of your application.

→ Importance

Rigor of High School Record

Academic GPA

Standardized Test Scores

Application Essay

Recommendations

Extracurricular Activities

Character / Personal Qualities

Talent / Ability

First Generation

Level of Applicant's Interest

Class Rank

Volunteer Work

Work Experience

Geographical Residence

State Residency

Alumni Relation

Racial / Ethnic Status

Religious Affiliation

Cost of attendance

Estimated full-time annual cost from Texas Tech's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.

2024–25 CDSTexas Tech's 2025-2026 Common Data Set hasn't published this section yet, so this figure is shown from the 2024-2025 edition instead.
$28,525
In-State
$40,825
Out-of-State
In-StateOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees
$11,852$24,152
Room & Board
$10,742$10,742
Other Expenses
$5,931$5,931
Total
$28,525$40,825

What families actually pay

$0–30k~$12k
$30–48k~$14k
$48–75k~$17k
$75–110k~$22k
$110k+~$25k

Average net price — what was left to pay after grant aid — for students receiving federal financial aid, covering in-state students only.

% of undergrads with Pell grants27.8%

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Financial aid

Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.

2024–25 CDSTexas Tech's 2025-2026 Common Data Set hasn't published this section yet, so this figure is shown from the 2024-2025 edition instead.
Receiving Aid
48%
Avg. Package
$14,521
Avg. Need Met
61%

Popular majors

Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.

Business & Marketing
Engineering
Biological & Life Sciences
Communication & Journalism
Family & Consumer Sciences
Psychology
Education
Social Sciences
Computer Sciences
Other
Business
22%
Engineering
9%
Life Sci
9%
Comm
9%
Human Sci
7%
Psychology
5%
Education
4%
Social Sci
4%
Computing
4%
Other
27%

Student-faculty ratio

The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.

21:1

Student outcomes

First-years who return85%
Graduate within six years70%
Median earnings, 4 yrs after graduation~$66k
Median federal loan debt at graduation~$22k

Median yearly income of former students who received federal aid, across every major, measured four years after graduating (2017–18 and 2018–19 graduates, earnings measured 2022–2023). Debt covers federal loans of students who completed.

Source: College Scorecard (2026)

Programs

Texas Tech’s most popular programs and median pay after graduation. Income data from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

Show all 33 programs

Median pay data is measured from graduates who received federal student aid.

Source: College Scorecard (2026) · IPEDS (2023-24) · ABET

Campus life

On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.

First-Years On Campus
89%
In Fraternities
12%
In Sororities
16%

Place

How the federal government classifies the area around the campus, and what a normal year of weather looks like there.

Setting
Large city
Location
Lubbock, TX

Average temperature

Monthly high and low, °F
5527J
6031F
6838M
7646A
8457M
9266J
9369J
9268A
8560S
7648O
6436N
5528D
Snow a year
7 in
Precipitation a year
18 in
Days at 90°F or above
92
Days below 32°F
84

Thirty-year averages, measured at the nearest weather station rather than on campus — they describe the area, not the campus.

Source: IPEDS (HD2024) · NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, LUBBOCK, TX US station, 6.0 mi from campus

Enrollment by gender

50%
50%
Male
16,914
Female
17,107

Student diversity

Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.

White49.9%
Hispanic31.6%
Other8.3%
Black6.3%
Asian and Pacific Islander3.6%
Native American<1%

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TCU vs. Texas Tech: frequently asked questions

TCU is more selective: it admits about 48.1% of applicants, compared with 69.1% at Texas Tech. Both are competitive, and your odds depend on far more than the overall rate.

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1110–1330 at TCU and 1110–1260 at Texas Tech on the SAT. Treat the ranges as a benchmark — a score inside or above a school's range keeps you competitive there.

Texas Tech has the lower published price for out-of-state students — $24,152 in tuition and fees versus $66,610 at TCU, a gap of about $42,458 a year before financial aid.

TCU graduates a higher share of its students within six years — 86% versus 70% at Texas Tech.

Neither — about equally. Both Common Data Sets rate the application essay important, so the same draft does the same work in either application.

Source: Texas Christian University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-10. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with TCU. Banner photo by Amymay52, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).

Source: Texas Tech University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-25. In-State Tuition & Fees, Out-of-State Tuition & Fees, % of Full-Time First-Years Awarded Need-Based Grant Aid, Average Aid Package, Students With Need Who Received Aid, and Average % of Need Met, Students With Need Who Received Aid are from the 2024-2025 edition. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Texas Tech. Banner photo by Bubbahotepblues, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).