Tarleton State University (TSU, Texans, Texanns, TSU) Academics and Admissions

Academics

Tarleton State University offers students interested in agriculture the ideal setting for their academic studies, and the rural environment of the university is also optimal for students who wish to pursue other degrees in a laid-back Texas locale.

Tarleton is the largest non-land grant university primarily focused on agricultural programs in the U.S. Its agricultural programs are acclaimed, not just for the quality graduates they turn out, but also for the many contributions to agriscience and agribusiness university research provides. Tarleton also has a well-regarded teacher education program, and produces many educators for the area.

Tarleton State University offers 64 undergraduate, 21 graduate and two associates programs. The university also offers one doctoral degree. In addition to its agriculture and teaching programs, Tarleton State University offers a variety of programs, including nursing, environmental engineering, interdisciplinary business, communications and more.

The most popular majors at Tarleton State University are business/marketing, interdisciplinary studies, agriculture, parks and recreation and psychology.

The university’s large farm and ranch make it an ideal place to study agriculture in a hands-on, real world setting. Lessons learned in the classroom are applied in the field and the result is better trained farmers and agribusiness professionals, and education that is better in tune with the needs of modern farmers.

The university’s education school has received plaudits for its quality and rigor. The Association of Teacher Education recently recognized the program for excellence. The university keeps strong ties to local schools, providing professional development and other services for K-12 schools in the region.

Tarleton State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which accredits institutions in Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas, and also accredits some overseas American schools in Latin and South America. SACS accredits more than 13,000 colleges, universities, high schools and other institutions.

Tarleton State University has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report for having quality undergraduate education and engineering programs. Tarleton also gets high marks from education publications for its affordability.

As mentioned before, Tarleton’s agriculture research programs are well-repsected for the value they bring to the business of farming, Recently, the university’s Center for Agribusiness Excellence, researchers have been working with data to determine how the U.S. Department of Agriculture can better serve farmers with regard to its insurance programs. The program has allowed the program to save more than $300 million by eliminating waste, fraud and abuse. The university’s Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research conduct important research into water quality and its impact on agriculture and agriculture’s impact on water.

Tarleton also uses its agricultural programs in an unique and interesting way for the benefit of the disabled. The university’s Laboratory for Wellness and Motor Behaivor has a training machine known as the Psycle for persons with mobility problems who need physical therapy. The university also has a unique equine program that uses horseback riding to help in physical therapy.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Information Summary

Ranks 50th in Texas and 1198th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	77.7
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$21,795
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	23 / 1140
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	21 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	70% / 62%
Enrollment Total (all students)	13,109

Admissions

Tarleton State University has a fairly lenient admissions policy. Applications for new students must be received by May 1 for Fall semester admission. About 66 percent of all students who apply to the university are accepted. As of April 2010, all students applying to the university must pay a $25 application fee.

Tarleton State University’s average GPA for new freshmen is above 3.0, and most students have an ACT score of 960 or above. Students applying to the college should submit the standard high school transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, and information about activities and club memberships.

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Financial Aid

Students applying to Tarleton State University are eligible for federal grants and student loans. There are also a number of grants and scholarships offered by the state of Texas, the university and other organizations that students may be eligible for. Tarleton State University awards about $4 million per year in scholarships. For example, the Tarleton State University Presidential Scholarships award up to $2,000 per academic year to students who have a GPA of 3.0 or better and are renewable up to four years.

The Texan Tuition Guarantee provides full tuition for low income students attending Tarleton. Students must keep a GPA of 2.5 or better in coursework to maintain the scholarship.

The university’s office of financial aid also stands ready to help students find other grants and scholarships they may be eligible for.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 654th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Texas.

Students

The University has recently made a number of improvements to student facilities to make campus life more enjoyable for students. The university opened a new 70,000 square foot recreation center in 2007. The center has recreation and exercise equipment to suit almost any interest, including racquet ball courts, a weight room, climbing wall, a track and an outdoor pursuit area that allows students to sign up to rent kayaks, camping gear and other outdoor equipment.

Tarleton State University also recently opened a $13 million dining hall, built as an addition to the university’s student center. The new dining facility offers a variety of dining options and plenty of space.

Student with musical and performance art interests can take advantage of the university’s Clyde H. Wells Fine Arts Center, which is considered a top venue among Southwestern colleges and universities. The center has three theatres, including a recital hall, auditorium and workshop theatre. The university has a fine collection of instruments, including Steinway grand pianos and a manual pipe organ.

Tarleton State University has more than than 100 clubs and organizations on campus, which include a variety of professional, academic, service-oriented and special interest groups. There are 15 Greek fraternities and sororities on campus.

Tarleton’s student body is about 60 percent female, and the vast majority of students are white, although there are sizable contingents of Native American and African American students.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

Tarleton State University offers a number of athletic programs for its students. The university offers men’s football, cross country, baseball, basketball and track and field and women’s softball, basketball, cross country, golf, tennis, track and field and volleyball.

Tarleton State University is an NCAA Division II school and its teams play in the Lone Star Conference.

Tarleton State University athletic teams have made good showings, but few championships in recent years. The men’s baseball team has made appearances in Lone Star Conference tournaments for most of the past decade. The men’s football team has made NCAA championship appearances in 2001, 2003 and 2009. The women’s basketball team has made Lone Star Conference tournament appearances for most of the 2000s. The women’s tennis team made NCAA regional tournament appearance for most of the 2000s and were regional champs in 2006.

Tarleton is known for its school pride and students support of its athletic endeavors. There are a number of student organizations at Tarleton dedicated to cheering on Tarleton teams.

Tarleton State University’s teams are nicknamed the Texans (women’s teams are called TexAnns) and the university’s colors are purple and white.

Traditions

Tarleton State University has some very interesting quirks and traditions unique to the university. Some of them include:

Legend has it that John Tarleton, university founder, had a pet duck named Oscar P. that followed him everywhere and was buried with him when Tarleton died. During athletic events, students can often be seen chanting to raise the spirit of the departed duck.

The university has a Yell Contest that various student organizations compete in each year. Students perform dances and steps to the sound of chants and lyrics, and the teams that put on the best show win the contest. Events are held each year in Wisdom Gymnasium.

Spirit organizations are huge on the Tarleton campus, some include the Ten Tarleton Peppers, the Ten Tarleton Sisters and the Purple Poo, a secret cheer organization whose members appear at events in costume to pump up team spirit.

Local Community

Tarleton State University’s rural setting is great for students who want to pursue their studies in the country. The university is located in Stephenville, a small city with a population of 20,000. The town is ranked as one of the best small towns in America by various publications, including Norman Crampton’s 100 Best Small Towns in America.

The campus sits on 150 acres, and the university also owns a 700 acre farm and 1,170 acre ranch for its agriculture education programs.

For students who grow weary of the university’s bucolic setting, the Dallas-Fort Worth area is just a little more than an hour away. Many students visit the large metropolis on the weekends to take advantage of the nightlife and entertainment opportunities there.

Additional School Information

Tarleton State has some impressive alumni, including famed actor George Kennedy, award-winning musician Ryan Bingham, several NFL and MLB players, and a variety of Texas state and federal legislators.

Bibliography

" Welcome to Tarleton State University – Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Online, Texas – Tarleton State University." Welcome to Tarleton State University – Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Online, Texas – Tarleton State University. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2011. <http://www.tarleton.edu/>.

McGrath, Anne. Ultimate college guide 2010 . 7th ed. Naperville, Ill.: Sourcebooks Inc., 2009. Print.

The College Board College Handbook, 2010 . 47th ed. New York: College Board, 2009. Print.

Tarleton State University