Texas State University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

San Antonio, Texas · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025

Acceptance rate
88%
25,422 applicants
Avg SAT
1110
Mid 50: 1010–1210
In-state tuition
$8,991
per year, before aid
Net price (avg)
$11,234
after aid, what families pay

Texas State University is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. For the most recent reporting cycle, Texas State University admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 88%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1102 and an ACT composite around 22. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $11,234 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether Texas State University is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.

What GPA does my child need for Texas State University?

Texas State University has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
From the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Texas State University.

What does Texas State University weight in admissions?

Texas State University reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.

Very Important3 factors
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Class rank
  • Academic GPA
Considered9 factors
  • Standardized test scores
  • Application essay
  • Recommendations
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Talent/ability
  • Character/personal qualities
  • First generation status
  • Volunteer work
  • Work experience
Not Considered6 factors
  • Interview
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • Geographical residence
  • State residency
  • Religious affiliation/commitment
  • Level of applicant's interest

SAT and ACT scores Texas State University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 490–590, with an EBRW midpoint near 565. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 19–26. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1010
50th percentile1110
75th percentile1210
% submitting SAT61%
ACT Composite
25th percentile19
50th percentile23
75th percentile25
% submitting ACT7%
Current testing policy
  • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Policy detail: Considered if submitted

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

Top 10% of class16%
Top 25% of class55%
Top 50% of class87%
% submitting class rank98%

How much does Texas State University actually cost?

Published tuition is $8,991 for in-state students and $21,965 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $11,843 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $11,234 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 42% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.

In-state tuition
Room and board
Average net price (after aid)$11,234
Application fee$70 (waivers available)

Application deadlines and early decision data for Texas State University

Regular admission
Regular deadline2025-06-01
Notification date2025-09-01
Rolling admissionsYes

Will my child graduate from Texas State University?

Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.

Freshman retention
80%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
32.26%
finished on time
6-year graduation
52.64%
finished within 6 years

Other colleges in Texas parents ask about

How parents track GPA toward selective schools like Texas State University

Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like Texas State University recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.

Common questions parents ask about Texas State University

What GPA do I need for Texas State University?

Texas State University has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.

What SAT or ACT score does Texas State University typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 490–590, with an EBRW midpoint near 565. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 19–26.

How much does Texas State University actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Texas State University after grants and scholarships is $11,234 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.

Is Texas State University realistic for my child?

Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, Texas State University is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.

Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Texas State University, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.