Texas State University

<h4 id="section---Pros">Pros</h4> <ul><li>Ranked top 20 for best public universities </li><li>Room and board cost is $1,795 lower than the national average </li><li>Acceptance rate is 11.5 percentage points higher than the national average </li><li>Graduation rate is 16 percentage points higher than the national average </li><li>High number of academic programs </li></ul><h4 id="section---Cons">Cons</h4> <ul><li>Total cost (including all school and living expenses) is $2,148 higher than the national average for in-state students </li><li>Student-faculty ratio is 20:1, which is higher than the national average </li></ul><h3 id="section---RankingsSchoolAnalysis">Rankings &amp; School Analysis</h3> <p>In 2013, <i>U.S. News &amp; World Report</i> ranked Texas State University #12 among public schools in the U.S. and #46 among western universities. As a student of Texas State, you'll be able to choose from 96 bachelor's degree programs, 87 master's programs and 12 doctoral programs. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that 79% of full-time and 69% of part-time students return to the school after their freshman year, while 56% of attendees graduate from Texas State, an increase over the national average of 40%. </p> <p>Texas State is a large school, with a 2011 enrollment of 28,959 undergraduates and 5,128 graduate students. Approximately 77% of applicants are accepted to the university, according to the NCES, which is above the national average of 65.5%. The large student body means that you can expect a student-faculty ratio of 20:1, higher than the national average of 16:1. If you're a Texas resident, as 99% of Texas State students are, you can expect to pay a total of $19,284 a year for tuition, room and board, books/supplies and personal expenses. This figure is slightly above the national average of $17,136. However, individual room and board costs are about $7,520, lower than the national average of $9,315 for public universities. </p> <h2 id="section---AdmissionsFinancialAidAtTexasState">Admissions &amp; Financial Aid at Texas State</h2> <p>After choosing a college and major to which to apply, you will be required to submit the school's application form, an essay and standardized test scores. ACT and/or SAT scores are due at the university by May 1. The NCES reports that 71% of students submit the ACT, while 24% send in SAT scores. In 2011, the middle 50% of students scored between 21 and 25 on the composite ACT and 1400 to 1690 on the combined SAT. Of all students admitted to the university, roughly 40% choose to attend. </p> <p>If you need help paying for college, you should apply by April 1 to receive priority consideration for financial aid. About 77% of Texas State students receive some sort of aid, and 19% have their full need met. The school offers a variety of scholarships based on need, academic performance and achievement in art, athletics, leadership, music and ROTC. If you're entering a graduate program, you may be eligible for assistantships or fellowships. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Application and Tuition Info </th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Regular Application Deadline (2013)</i> </td><td> May 1***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Financial Aid Application Deadline (2013)</i> </td><td> April 1 (for priority consideration)***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Notification of Acceptance 2013)</i> </td><td> Rolling, beginning September 1***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Application Fee (2013)</i> </td><td> 60%***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Acceptance Rate (2011)</i> </td><td> 77%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>All Tuition &amp; Living Expenses (2011-2012)</i> </td><td> $19,284 for in-state students, $27,422 for out-of-state*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Average Financial Aid Package (2012-2013)</i> </td><td> $12,599***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Percent of Students with Need Met (2012-2013)</i> </td><td> 19%***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Average Student Debt at Graduation (2012-2013)</i> </td><td> $23,575***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Student Loan Default Rate (2009)</i> </td><td> 5.8%*</td></tr> </table><h2 id="section---LifeAtTexasState">Life at Texas State</h2> <p>You will be among a diverse student body at Texas State, with the largest racial/ethnic groups being White (59%), Hispanic/Latino (28%) and Black/African-American (6%). Roughly 55% of attendees are female. Most first-year students live on campus, where you'll be able to choose from 23 residence halls that include dorms, suites and apartments. You will also find 10 academically-themed housing communities to match your interests. </p> <p>If you're looking to get involved on campus, Texas State offers close to 300 student organizations, including 31 Greek chapters and 14 NCAA athletic teams. The school also has a number of notable research facilities, including a 26-acre outdoor forensics laboratory designed to study body decomposition. If you need more flexibility with your schedule, the university offers weekend and evening courses to help you earn your degree. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> Student Life Info </th><th /></tr> <tr><td> <i>Campus Setting</i> </td><td> Suburban***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Student Population (2011)</i> </td><td> 28,959 undergraduates, 5,128 graduate students*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Male-to-Female Student Ratio (2011)</i> </td><td> 45% to 55%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of Full Time Students (2011)</i> </td><td> 82%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of In-state Students (2011)</i> </td><td> 99%*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Retention Rate (2011)</i> </td><td> 79% for full-time students, 69% for part-time*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Campus Housing Available</i> </td><td> Yes*</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>% of Students Living on Campus</i> </td><td> 20%***</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Number of Libraries</i> </td><td> 1**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Extracurricular Activities</i> </td><td> Nearly 300**</td></tr> <tr><td> <i>Noteworthy</i> </td><td> School has a large outdoor forensics laboratory**</td></tr> </table><p><i>Sources: *NCES College Navigator, **Texas State University, ***College Board</i> </p> <h3 id="section---SchoolContactInformation"> School Contact Information</h3> <ul><li><i>Address:</i> Office of Admissions, 429 North Guadalupe St., San Marcos, TX 78666 </li><li><i>Phone:</i> (512) 245-2364</li></ul>