Texas Christian University acceptance rate, SAT range and net price

Out-of-state applicants are admitted more often

TCU receives as many applications from outside Texas as from Texans, and for fall 2025 it admitted a larger share of the out-of-state pool: 5,818 of 10,483, against 4,663 of 10,757 Texas applicants. A private university has no resident quota, so the gap reflects who applies. For a student from another state, TCU is easier to enter than its overall rate suggests; for a Texan, the deciding factor is often the price compared with the public flagships.

TCU: where your SAT score lands

Your SAT total

Enrolled students scoring below you (approx.)

50%

Middle 50%	1,110 to 1,330
Your score is	inside the middle 50%

Fall 2025 entering class (Class of 2029), CDS 2025-2026, C9 (752 SAT submitters, 566 ACT submitters). Normal curve fitted to the two published percentiles.

Odds and net price at other universities →

Four rounds, and dates that matter for money

TCU runs Early Action and Early Decision I on November 1, and Early Decision II and regular decision on February 1, later than most private universities. The early date carries the money: the TCU for Texans program, full tuition plus help with food and housing for Pell-eligible Texas residents with family income of $100,000 or less, applies only to students who apply Early Action and file the FAFSA and CSS Profile by November 1. Chancellor's Scholars candidates also apply by November 1, and the honors college by November 15. Under the "do no harm" rule, a score that would lower an applicant's chances is simply set aside.

What families on aid paid

The federal averages for 2023-24 show a flat curve: $17,956 under $30,000, $16,980 between $30,001 and $48,000, $17,940 between $48,001 and $75,000. That pattern is common at universities whose aid leans on merit scholarships rather than need-based grants: low-income families receive help, but not enough to bring the price close to zero. Above $75,000 the average rises sharply. TCU is need-aware for international applicants, who are more competitive when they can pay a large share of the cost.

TCU: net price for your family income

Family income per year

$

Average net price, 2023-24

$17,940

Income band	$48,001-$75,000
Share of the 2023-24 cost	23%

Federal figure for first-year students on federal aid.

Compare with other universities →

The budget in Fort Worth

The 2026-27 budget of $89,810 includes tuition of $66,520 and $18,780 for housing and food. Families comparing Texas private universities can put TCU next to SMU, Baylor and Rice, whose aid models differ widely, in the comparison tool.