Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Tarleton State University #297 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $57,758, placing Tarleton State University in the 32.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Tarleton State University #514 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Students at Tarleton State University achieve median earnings that place the university solidly among its peers in the Azimuth coverage set, reflecting a program mix anchored in business and applied fields that connect graduates to stable regional employment. Affordability is a defining strength here — Tarleton State University ranks among the more accessible institutions for post-graduation financial sustainability, making it a practical choice for cost-conscious students seeking reliable long-term outcomes.
Azimuth ranks Tarleton State University #297 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 79.9 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Stephenville, TX, Tarleton State University enrolls roughly 12,673 undergraduates. Retention stands at 69.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 48.2%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored in what Tarleton State University delivers for its graduates. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $57,758, placing Tarleton State University in the 32.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,491 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Tarleton State University in the 74.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Business shapes much of that outcome, connecting a large share of graduates to stable regional and statewide employment markets. Azimuth ranks Tarleton State University #739 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 50.1 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability round out the picture. 34.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 42.1% are first-generation college students, signaling that Tarleton State University serves a broad, cost-sensitive population. Tarleton State University sits in the 64.0 percentile for affordability and the 80.0 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility outcomes in the 87.9 percentile — a composite profile that reflects a regional public university delivering consistent value for students who need a clear, affordable path to a working career in TX.
Tarleton State University's published cost of attendance is $24,100. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $15,574, middle-income families pay around $20,396, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,076. Azimuth ranks Tarleton State University #514 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Tarleton State's tuition structure reflects its public-university mission, with need-based aid available through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state programs. The institution participates in federal financial aid programs, and families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility. Aid packages combine grants, loans, and work-study opportunities to help bridge the gap between sticker price and net price. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,606, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,125; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $57,758, median federal debt of $19,606 projects to a monthly payment of about $222 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Tarleton State University is a strong fit for students in TX who want an affordable public university grounded in Business and applied professional fields, with a clear path to stable post-graduation earnings without taking on excessive debt. Graduates earn median $57,758 four years after enrollment, placing Tarleton State University in the 32.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $4,491 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Tarleton State University in the 74.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access profile is broad. 34.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 42.1% are first-generation students, and Tarleton State University delivers completion outcomes for Pell-eligible students at a rate of 47.2% — a signal that the institution supports students from lower-income backgrounds through to graduation. Low-income graduates sit in the 52.8 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure, reinforcing the case for Pell-eligible and first-generation applicants. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Tarleton State University draws most heavily from TX and the surrounding region, so students planning to build careers locally will find the strongest labor-market alignment, while those seeking a highly research-intensive environment may find the program mix more applied than theoretical. Students whose interests align with Business and related professional fields, and who want a regionally grounded public university with a net price that reflects its public mission, will find the value proposition among the more reliable in the Azimuth coverage set.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Tarleton State University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Tarleton State University's published cost of attendance is $24,100. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $15,574, middle-income families pay around $20,396, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,076.
Azimuth ranks Tarleton State University #514 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Tarleton State's tuition structure reflects its public-university mission, with need-based aid available through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state programs. The institution participates in federal financial aid programs, and families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility.
Aid packages combine grants, loans, and work-study opportunities to help bridge the gap between sticker price and net price. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,606, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $17,125; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $57,758, median federal debt of $19,606 projects to a monthly payment of about $222 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Tarleton State University earn median 4-year earnings of $57,758, placing the institution in the 32.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,491 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Tarleton State University in the 74.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful lifetime returns relative to TX's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $31,626 (the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential).
The earnings pattern reflects Tarleton State University's strong business orientation, with Business representing 20% of graduates. Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other is the largest program with 260 graduates earning median earnings of $53,503 four years after enrollment. Azimuth ranks Business/Commerce, General #42 among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with graduates earning $66,572. The institution also graduates substantial cohorts in Criminal Justice and Corrections (209 students) and Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (207 students), both with earnings above TX's no-degree baseline.
Computer Science
13 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
168 graduates
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians
52 graduates
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
33 graduates
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
14 graduates
Tarleton State University's program mix is anchored in Business, with meaningful enrollment across agriculture, education, and health-related fields — a portfolio shaped by the university's regional land-grant identity in central Texas. Interdisciplinary Studies is the largest program by graduate count, followed by Business/Commerce, General, Criminal Justice, Kinesiology, and Psychology, General.
The Business family accounts for 20% of graduates, Arts for 2%, and Engineering for 1%, reflecting a broad applied-professional orientation across 50 programs serving roughly 2,632 students annually. The strongest early-career earnings at Tarleton State University are concentrated in applied business and technical fields.
Azimuth ranks Nursing #104 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $89,677 from a cohort of 168 graduates. Accounting follows, with Azimuth ranking it #202 among nonprofit four-year institutions and graduates earning median earnings of $68,031 — a strong applied-business outcome for a program of 84 graduates.
Business/Commerce, General and Business Administration round out the top-earning cluster, with graduates earning median earnings of $66,572 and $63,969 respectively. The largest programs by enrollment — Interdisciplinary Studies and Business/Commerce, General — combine broad cohort scale with solid early-career outcomes.
Business/Commerce, General stands out as the program combining the strongest combination of cohort size and earnings. Fields like Criminal Justice and Kinesiology reflect the university's applied-professional and regional-workforce orientation, with graduates entering stable local and regional labor markets.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Michigan-Flint Similar quality tier (#10749 ranked) | MI | 70% | $53,230 | #10749 | Compare |
William Paterson University Of New Jersey Similar quality tier (#10755 ranked) | NJ | 90% | $57,780 | #10755 | Compare |
Tennessee Technological University Similar quality tier (#10757 ranked) | TN | 76% | $48,501 | #10757 | Compare |
University Of West Georgia Similar quality tier (#10747 ranked) | GA | 52% | $49,587 | #10747 | Compare |
Texas A&M University-Kingsville Similar quality tier in Southwest (#10743 ranked) | TX | 91% | $51,450 | #10743 | Compare |
