Tarleton State University

Admission to Tarleton State University is broadly accessible, even as its standing on the U.S. News Best Colleges ranking has slid. In the 2027 rankings, the school placed at 382, declining from 331 in 2023. Gaining entry is relatively unselective, reflected in an overall acceptance rate of 89.6% in 2025. When compared to 30 public comprehensive universities with similar rankings, this acceptance rate is higher than 68% of peer institutions. The school draws a modest portion of its admitted applicant pool, recording a yield rate of 24.3% in 2025. Nevertheless, that enrollment rate is higher than 71% of peer schools in the comparison group. For prospective applicants, these figures mean that meeting basic academic requirements provides a high likelihood of acceptance, while the university enrolls roughly one in four students it accepts amid competition from regional alternatives.

Applicants to Tarleton State University face accessible academic benchmarks for admission. For the class entering in 2025, the median SAT score was 1070. When evaluated against 30 public comprehensive universities with similar rankings, this median performance is higher than 57% of peer institutions. Looking at score distributions, the middle 50% of enrolled students achieved an ACT composite score between 19 and 24. Standardized testing is not submitted by all applicants, but those who submit results near or above the institutional average meet standard expectations for successful entry. Prospective applicants who achieve scores within this ACT range or match the middle SAT performance can approach the admissions process with confidence, as academic thresholds remain broadly attainable.

Undergraduate degrees at Tarleton State University are relatively dispersed, with the top three bachelor programs accounting for 23.1% of all bachelor degrees awarded in 2025. The most popular undergraduate majors include exercise science and kinesiology, psychology, and animal sciences. However, these popular bachelor programs are not nationally ranked among top tiers; for instance, undergraduate psychology was ranked 474 by U.S. News in 2027. The university's recognized academic strengths lie instead at the graduate level, where criminology was ranked 42 in 2021 and production and operations management was ranked 75 in 2026. In terms of compensation, applied technical fields yield the highest early-career returns. According to 2023 data, bachelor graduates in industrial production technologies earned a median salary of $78,018 one year after graduation. International students represent a tiny presence, making up just 0.6% of bachelor graduates in 2025. For applicants, Tarleton provides strong career earnings in specialized technical areas rather than broad national prestige in its largest undergraduate departments.

The student body at Tarleton State University totaled 17,433 students in 2025, serving primarily domestic students. Undergraduates form the majority of the campus, while graduate students represent a smaller segment. Across all divisions, Asian and international students constitute very small proportions. Among incoming undergraduate freshmen, Asian students numbered 47, making up just over one percent of the cohort. International representation is equally limited, accounting for 0.4% of the freshman class and 2.0% of graduate students. The campus population is largely composed of White and Hispanic students, with women outnumbering men across undergraduate and graduate study. For families evaluating the campus environment, these figures reflect an institution centered on regional enrollment with modest Asian and international student communities.

Tarleton State University maintains a predominantly traditional undergraduate population alongside a broader, career-focused graduate body. In 2025, students aged 18 to 19 formed the single largest undergraduate segment at 31.8% of undergraduates, followed by those aged 20 to 21 at 25.3%. Together, traditional college-age students comprise the majority of undergraduate enrollment, shaping a campus environment centered on students entering directly from high school. In contrast, the graduate division serves a wider mix of age groups. Students aged 22 to 24 account for 25.5% of graduate enrollment, with another substantial portion between ages 25 and 29, as well as students in their forties. This distribution reflects an environment where graduate coursework accommodates both recent bachelor's degree recipients and mid-career adults.

International students make up a very small fraction of enrollment at Tarleton State University. In 2025, international students accounted for 0.5% of the undergraduate student body, reflecting modest growth from earlier years. Among 30 public comprehensive universities with similar rankings, this undergraduate share is higher than only 7% of peer institutions. At the graduate level, the international proportion has trended slightly downward, standing at 2.0% in 2025. This limited presence extends to degree completions, where international students represent a minimal share of bachelor's degree recipients and roughly two percent of master's degree earners, with none at the doctoral level. Undergraduate international graduates are lightly distributed across majors such as Psychology, General, and Exercise Science and Kinesiology. At the master's level, international degree recipients concentrate primarily in Business Administration and Management, General, as well as Exercise Science and Kinesiology.

Students exploring higher education options in the region surrounding Stephenville can consider several nearby institutions. Located 60.3 kilometers away, Texas Christian University is a National University ranked 90 in the 2027 rankings. Also within easy driving distance is The University of Texas at Arlington, a National University situated 73.5 kilometers from campus and holding a rank of 236. Another prominent choice is Baylor University, located 79.4 kilometers away and tied at rank 90 among National Universities. Further north, University of North Texas is located 92.6 kilometers away and ranked 208. These institutions provide a variety of public and private university settings across north-central Texas.

Campus safety at Tarleton State University shows an improving trend, with disciplinary matters forming the bulk of reported activity. In 2025, the university recorded a crime rate of 4.3 per 1,000 students, down from earlier highs. Student conduct infractions related to alcohol represent the vast majority of documented campus incidents. From 2023 to 2025, the university recorded 331 liquor law disciplinary referrals and 88 liquor law arrests, demonstrating that substance policy enforcement makes up most official reports. More serious interpersonal offenses occurred at much lower levels, with 19 rape incidents reported across those same three years. For prospective students and families, these records reflect a campus characterized largely by alcohol enforcement rather than frequent violent crime, though basic safety precautions remain advisable.