Texas Christian University (TCU)
Private nonprofit four-year university in Fort Worth, TX that costs an average of $35,045 a year after financial aid, admits 44% of applicants and graduates 86% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$35,045
Acceptance rate
44%
Graduation rate
86%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$77,334
Private nonprofitLarge city11,026 undergraduates
Cost of TCU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $83,017 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $63,590 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $18,020 |
| Books and supplies | $700 |
| Average net price after aid | $35,045 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $22,363 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $12,610 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $19,790 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $34,094 |
| $110,001+ | $54,791 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with TCU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 44% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,298 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 580–680 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 560–670 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 26–31 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 86% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 93% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $68,389 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $77,334 |
| Rank in Texas (earnings) | 14th of 93 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $21,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $244 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 19% |
| Students with federal loans | 26% |
Majors and programs at TCU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (68)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analysis | 106 | $84,225 | $17,497 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 436 | $81,791 | $20,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 399 | $79,941 | $24,212 |
| Engineering | 100 | $78,978 | $21,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 219 | $73,741 | $20,500 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 147 | $70,351 | $20,500 |
| Marketing | 308 | $66,568 | $20,250 |
| Economics | 226 | $62,769 | $20,500 |
| Real Estate | 195 | $60,524 | $21,225 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 259 | $59,088 | $19,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 79 | $57,636 | $25,562 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 111 | $56,523 | $23,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 84 | $55,168 | $27,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 271 | $54,632 | $21,500 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 116 | $51,452 | $21,500 |
| Political Science and Government | 184 | $50,135 | $22,982 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 139 | $46,617 | $20,000 |
| Journalism | 61 | $45,174 | $25,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 83 | $45,087 | $20,500 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | 83 | $38,666 | $24,167 |
| Psychology | 231 | $36,821 | $17,500 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 73 | $32,667 | $25,000 |
| Biology | 167 | $31,808 | $20,500 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 62 | $25,533 | $19,500 |
| Dance | 32 | $22,011 | $26,946 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 230 | — | $20,413 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 8 | — | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 5 | — | — |
| Anthropology | 11 | — | — |
| Area Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 6 | — | — |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | 3 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 18 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | 10 | — | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 69 | — | $13,750 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 61 | — | — |
| Education | 16 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 46 | — | $26,000 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 18 | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 1 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 25 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 12 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 10 | — | — |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | 31 | — | $22,375 |
| History | 46 | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 9 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 18 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 35 | — | — |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | 5 | — | — |
| Movement and Mind-Body Therapies and Education | 69 | — | $21,000 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | 10 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 2 | — | — |
| Music | 52 | — | $23,134 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 18 | — | — |
| Natural Sciences | 66 | — | $19,500 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 28 | — | — |
| Nutrition Sciences | 42 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 14 | — | — |
| Physics | 3 | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 8 | — | — |
| Religious Music and Worship | — | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 23 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 49 | — | $20,500 |
| Social Work | 56 | — | $21,500 |
| Sociology | 50 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 3 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 22 | — | — |
Certificate programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Business and Management | 27 | — | — |
| Music | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | — | — |
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (4)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (37)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 162 | $125,010 | $41,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 41 | $90,196 | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 80 | $76,440 | — |
| Accounting and Related Services | 114 | $73,671 | $21,461 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 43 | $62,426 | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 46 | $61,503 | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 58 | $57,921 | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 58 | $56,259 | — |
| Social Work | 33 | $53,773 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 12 | — | — |
| Biology | 17 | — | — |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | 2 | — | — |
| Chemistry | — | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 10 | — | — |
| Data Analytics | 78 | — | $41,000 |
| English Language and Literature | 7 | — | — |
| Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | 3 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 13 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 16 | — | — |
| Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities | 5 | — | — |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | 2 | — | — |
| History | 3 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 3 | — | — |
| Music | 27 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 8 | — | — |
| Nutrition Sciences | 18 | — | — |
| Physics | 6 | — | — |
| Psychology | 11 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 20 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 3 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 10 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 21 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 11 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 37 | — | $61,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 1 | — | — |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | — | — | — |
| Theology and Religious Vocations, Other | — | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (22)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 3 | $208,384 | $104,163 |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 2 | — | — |
| Bible/Biblical Studies | — | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 4 | — | — |
| Biology | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | 4 | — | — |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | 2 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 5 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 20 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 11 | — | — |
| History | 7 | — | — |
| Medicine | — | — | $174,440 |
| Music | 5 | — | — |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | — | — | — |
| Physics | 2 | — | — |
| Psychology | 11 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Social Work | 2 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 3 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 4 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 5 | — | — |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | — | — | — |
Professional degree programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine | 113 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 191 | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (8)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 12 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 12 | — | — |
| Education, Other | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 5 | — | — |
| Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians | 7 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 4 | — | — |
| Music | 12 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 29 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Texas
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor University | Waco | $44,441 | 51% | $72,408 |
| Southern Methodist University | Dallas | $39,816 | 63% | $90,037 |
| Rice University | Houston | $11,164 | 8.0% | $90,773 |
| University of the Incarnate Word | San Antonio | $17,483 | 98% | $60,110 |
| University of St Thomas | Houston | $15,446 | 90% | $64,410 |
| Abilene Christian University | Abilene | $27,943 | 66% | $61,376 |
| Houston Christian University | Houston | $19,294 | 84% | $60,634 |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | Belton | $29,143 | 96% | $59,613 |
About TCU
| Type | Private nonprofit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Fort Worth, TX |
| Setting | Large city |
| Undergraduates | 11,026 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 14 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Website | tcu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is TCU's acceptance rate?
Texas Christian University admits 44% of applicants, making it selective. Admitted students average 1,298 on the SAT.
How much does TCU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $83,017 a year (tuition and fees: $63,590). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $35,045 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $22,363.
How much do TCU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $77,334 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 14th of 93 similar colleges in Texas. The best-paid bachelor's program is computer systems analysis ($84,225 a year after graduation).
What is TCU's graduation rate?
86% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 93% of first-year students return for a second year.