Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private university in Fort Worth affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), pairing a liberal arts core with strong professional programs in the Neeley School of Business, communication, and the health professions. Admission is selective but reachable: TCU admitted about 48% of roughly 22,700 applicants for its most recent class, with enrolled first-years posting a middle-50% SAT of 1110–1330 and ACT of 26–31. Business is by far the most-conferred field at about a third of bachelor's degrees, and Greek life is a defining part of campus, with 51% of men in fraternities and 61% of women in sororities. TCU is test-optional and 96% of first-years live on campus.
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TCU admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early Decision
TCU offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Admit rate by application plan
% admitted~1.5× higher admit rate applying early.
Standardized Tests
TCU is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Class Rank
Where TCU's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
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.
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.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about TCU admissions
Is it hard to get into TCU?＋
TCU is selective but not a reach for a solid student. It admitted about 48% of roughly 22,700 applicants in the most recent cycle, enrolling around 2,754 first-years. Admission rests on a holistic review where the rigor of your courses and your GPA carry the most weight.
What GPA do you need to get into TCU?＋
TCU does not publish a hard GPA cutoff or an average GPA, and it weighs academic GPA and course rigor as very important. Among the 36.5% of enrolled first-years who reported a class rank, about 46% finished in the top tenth of their high school class and 78% in the top quarter, so a strong upward-trending record in challenging classes is what reads best.
Is TCU test-optional?＋
Yes. TCU is test-optional, so you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores, and scores are only considered when sent rather than required. Among enrolled students who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1110–1330 on the SAT and 26–31 on the ACT.
Is a 1300 SAT good enough for TCU?＋
A 1300 is competitive and lands in the upper half of TCU's admitted range. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1110–1330 on the SAT, with a median near 1240, so a 1300 sits just below the 75th percentile. Because TCU is test-optional, send a score in this band and pair it with strong grades.
What is TCU's Early Decision acceptance rate?＋
TCU offers two binding Early Decision rounds (ED I and ED II) alongside non-binding Early Action, and the Early Decision pool admits at a higher rate than the overall 48%. For the most recent class, TCU admitted about 935 of 1,373 Early Decision applicants, roughly 68%. ED is binding, so apply that way only if TCU is your clear first choice.
How much does TCU cost, and how much financial aid does it give?＋
Tuition and required fees run about $66,610 per year, with food and housing adding roughly $18,780 on top. About 40% of first-years receive need-based scholarship or grant aid, with an average need-based award near $50,804, and TCU meets about 79% of demonstrated need on average for first-years.
What are the most popular majors at TCU?＋
Business and marketing dominate at about 33% of bachelor's degrees, reflecting the strength of the Neeley School of Business. Communication and journalism (13%) and the health professions (11%) follow, with psychology and the social sciences rounding out the most-conferred fields.
Does the application essay matter at TCU?＋
Yes. TCU rates the application essay as an important factor in its holistic review, alongside extracurriculars, character, and recommendations, while GPA and course rigor are weighed as very important. With test scores only considered, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest ways to stand out in a holistic file.
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).