Texas Christian University, or TCU, is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas. It was established in 1873. The university offers more than 95 undergraduate majors, over 50 master programs, and more than 10 doctoral programs. TCU is consistently ranked among the top 120, or top 5%, by U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges". It is organized into the following academic divisions:
TCU competes in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports as a member of the Division I Mountain West Conference. Their sports teams are nicknamed the Horned Frogs.

TCU has a greater breadth of degree programs (majors) than most colleges of its size. The school is known for its programs in music, media, and real estate and construction management.
TCU does not offer open admission. The school admitted just 50% of applicants in 2007-2008. Three quarters of students in 2007-2008 had SAT verbal scores of at least 520. Half of math SAT scores of accepted students fell between 540 and 640.
The school has a tenure system for senior faculty. The full-time faculty at TCU is well-paid, which often goes with faculty quality.
The school had 8,668 enrolled students in 2007-2008.
TCU offers dorm rooms to a higher percentage of its students than do most colleges. The school values student athletics, and belongs to the Mountain West Conference.
The school reports its educational mission is:
"To educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community."
More complete details are provided below.
Texas Christian University
2800 S University Dr
Fort Worth, TX 76129
General Phone: (817) 257-7000
http://www.tcu.edu
| General Category | Degrees | Most Common Majors [see all] |
|---|---|---|
| Business and Management | 538 | business management, accounting, management science, finance, marketing, fashion merchandising, electronic commerce, business administration, ... |
| Media | 319 | advertising, organizational communications, radio and television, journalism, broadcast journalism, communication studies |
| Liberal Arts | 248 | political science, general studies, history, English, liberal arts and sciences, sociology, economics, Spanish language, ... |
| Education and Teaching | 216 | early childhood education, educational administration, social studies teaching, music teaching, school counseling, special ed, elementary school teaching, English teaching, ... |
| Nursing and Emergency Medicine | 196 | registered nursing, nurse anesthetist |
| Science | 84 | biology, physics, geology, chemistry, biochemistry |
| Therapy and Counseling | 67 | psychology |
| Nutrition and Exercise Therapy | 65 | movement therapy, dietetics and clinical nutrition, dietitian, athletic trainer, exercise science, health and physical education, health and fitness |
| Real Estate and Construction Management | 43 | real estate |
| Design | 39 | interior design, graphic design |
| Medical Support and Technology | 36 | speech pathology |
| Security and Law Enforcement | 33 | criminal justice and safety |
| Agricultural Science and Management | 30 | farm management |
| Music | 27 | music, music performance, piano, conducting, violin, guitar, and strings, voice, music theory and composition, musicology |
| Drama and Performing Arts | 27 | dance, ballet, theatre design, drama, acting |
| Engineering | 24 | engineering |
| Fine Arts | 24 | art history and criticism, fine arts, sculpture, painting |
| Conservation and Resource Management | 19 | environmental science |
| Family and Social Work | 17 | social work |
| Mathematics | 14 | mathematics |
| Religion and Philosophy | 11 | religion, philosophy |
| Computer Science and Engineering | 9 | computer and info science, information technology |
| Medicine | 8 | neuroscience |
| Photography and Commercial Art | 7 | photography, printmaking, film studies |
Number of programs and degrees for TCU in 2008-2009:
| Degree Level | Total Awarded | Number of Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 1,564 | 80 |
| Master's degree | 482 | 37 |
| Doctor's degree - research/scholarship | 28 | 6 |
| Award of less than 1 academic year | 27 | 1 |
In 2007-2008, TCU had a total enrollment of 8,668 students (8,271 full-time equivalent).
Students in the Freshman Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Men | 39% |
| Women | 61% |
| Full-Time | 100% |
| Part-Time | 0% |
Students By Class:
| Group | Percent |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 85% |
| Graduate | 15% |
| Race | Percent |
|---|---|
| White | 74% |
| Black | 5% |
| Hispanic | 7% |
| Asian | 2% |
| American Indian | 0% |
| Unknown | 5% |
| (Foreign Students) | 5% |
Students by Age:
| Age | Percent |
|---|---|
| Under 18 | 0% |
| 18-19 | 29% |
| 20-21 | 35% |
| 22-24 | 18% |
| 25-29 | 7% |
| 30-34 | 3% |
| 35-39 | 2% |
| 40-49 | 2% |
| 50-64 | 1% |
| 65+ | 0% |
Incoming (Freshman) Students by Place of Residence:
(From available data sampling)
| Residence | Percent |
|---|---|
| Texas | 72% |
| (International Students) | 5% |
| California | 3% |
| Colorado | 2% |
| Missouri | 2% |
| Oklahoma | 2% |
| Kansas | 1% |
| Illinois | 1% |
| Nebraska | 1% |
| Louisiana | 1% |
| Arizona | 1% |
| Florida | 1% |
| New Mexico | 1% |
| Virginia | 1% |
Retention Rates (2007):
| Group | Returning From Previous Year |
|---|---|
| Full-Time | 86 % |
| Part-Time | 100 % |
TCU offers campus housing for 3,320 of its 8,271 (full-time) students. Freshmen are required to live on campus.
(Please refer to our profile of Fort Worth, Texas for details about the area surrounding the campus. Also see our list of other Texas Colleges).
The school does not offer students a meal plan.
Acceptances:
| Group | Applicants | Accepted | Percent Accepted | Enrolled | Percent of Accepted Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 12,212 | 6,157 | 50% | 1,630 | 26% |
| Men | 4,908 | 2,337 | 48% | 632 | 27% |
| Women | 7,304 | 3,820 | 52% | 998 | 26% |
Standardized Test Scores:
| Test | 25th Percentile | 75th Percetile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT Verbal | 520 | 630 |
| SAT Math | 540 | 640 |
| SAT Writing | 530 | 640 |
| ACT Composite | 23 | 28 |
Application Requirements:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| GPA | required |
| Class Rank | required |
| High School Record | required |
| College Prep Program | not required |
| Recommendations | required |
| Formal Demonstration of Competence | recommended |
| Standardized Tests (SAT and/or ACT) | required |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting SAT | 62% |
| Percent of Applicants Submitting ACT | 38% |
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) | required |
| Other Standardized Tests | not required |
Expenses and Financial Aid:
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| In-state tuition and fees | $ 26,948 |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $ 26,948 |
| Room and board | $ 9,600 |
| Room charge | $ 6,000 |
| Board (meal plan) charge | $ 3,600 |
| Books and supplies | $ 880 |
| Other expenses | $ 1,500 |
Financial Aid:
TCU participates in Federal Title IV financial aid programs. (The school's OPE ID is 363600)
TCU has a tenure system for faculty.
Salaries for full-time faculty:
Full-Time Faculty (2008-2009):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | calendar year | 2 | * | 1 | * |
| Associate professor | calendar year | 2 | * | 1 | * |
| Assistant professor | calendar year | 1 | * | 4 | $99,111 |
| Instructor | calendar year | 0 | * | 2 | * |
| Lecturer | calendar year | 16 | $50,848 | 18 | $49,674 |
| No academic rank | calendar year | 0 | * | 1 | * |
| All faculty total | calendar year | 21 | $70,714 | 27 | $65,929 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Full-Time Faculty (2008-2009):
| Full-Time Faculty Level | Contract Length | Number Men | Avg Salary Men | Number Women | Avg Salary Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor | academic year | 111 | $109,976 | 26 | $103,021 |
| Associate professor | academic year | 76 | $82,312 | 72 | $75,433 |
| Assistant professor | academic year | 66 | $72,671 | 42 | $64,360 |
| Instructor | academic year | 24 | $57,593 | 39 | $55,388 |
| No academic rank | academic year | 0 | * | 1 | * |
| All faculty total | academic year | 277 | $88,958 | 180 | $72,442 |
*: salaries are not displayed where there are fewer than 3 professors in the category.
Athletic Conferences:
| Sport | Conference |
|---|---|
| Football | Mountain West Conference |
| Basketball | Mountain West Conference |
| Baseball | Mountain West Conference |
| Track | Mountain West Conference |
Students on Athletic Scholarships (2007):
| Sport | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 202 | 128 | 330 |
| Football | 101 | 0 | 101 |
| Track | 15 | 21 | 36 |
| Basketball | 16 | 17 | 33 |
| Baseball | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| All Other Sports | 39 | 90 | 129 |
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT
Farm/Farm and Ranch Management
BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Accounting
Business Administration and Management, General
Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other
E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce
Fashion Merchandising
Finance, General
International Business/Trade/Commerce
International Finance
International Marketing
Management Science, General
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Information Technology
CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Science
DESIGN
Graphic Design
Interior Design
DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS
Acting
Ballet
Dance, General
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology
EDUCATION AND TEACHING
Art Teacher Education
Bilingual and Multilingual Education
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
Early Childhood Education and Teaching
Education/Teaching Individuals - Hearing Impairments
Educational Leadership and Administration, General
Elementary Education and Teaching
English/Language Arts Teacher Education
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
Mathematics Teacher Education
Music Teacher Education
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
Secondary Education and Teaching
Social Studies Teacher Education
Special Education and Teaching, General
ENGINEERING
Engineering, General
FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK
Social Work
FINE ARTS
Art History, Criticism and Conservation
Fine/Studio Arts, General
Painting
Sculpture
LIBERAL ARTS
Anthropology
Creative Writing
Economics, General
English Language and Literature, General
General Studies
Geography
History, General
International Economics
International Relations and Affairs
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Political Science and Government, General
Sociology
Spanish Language and Literature
MATHEMATICS
Mathematics, General
MEDIA
Advertising
Broadcast Journalism
Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
Journalism
Organizational Communication, General
Radio and Television
MEDICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY
Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist
MUSIC
Conducting
Music Performance, General
Music Theory and Composition
Music, General
Musicology and Ethnomusicology
Piano and Organ
Violin, Viola, Guitar and Other Stringed Instruments
Voice and Opera
NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Nurse Anesthetist
Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY
Athletic Training/Trainer
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services, Other
Dietetics/Dietitian (RD)
Health and Physical Education, General
Health and Physical Education/Fitness, Other
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Movement Therapy and Movement Education
PHOTOGRAPHY AND COMMERCIAL ART
Film/Cinema Studies
Photography
Printmaking
REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
Real Estate
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Philosophy
Religion/Religious Studies
SCIENCE
Biochemistry
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Chemistry, General
Geology/Earth Science, General
Physics, General
(Details are provided further down on this page.)
What Sets TCU Apart:
| Category | Trophy | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of degree programs (vs. all colleges) | Top 3% | ![]() ![]() |
| % of degrees in media (vs. all colleges) | Top 4% | ![]() ![]() |
| Salaries of full-time faculty (vs. all colleges) | Top 9% | ![]() |
| Number of students (vs. all colleges) | Top 9% | ![]() |
| Faculty/student ratio (full-time) (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 13% | ![]() |
| Dorm rooms per full-time student (vs. all colleges) | Top 14% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in real estate and construction management (vs. all colleges) | Top 17% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in music (vs. colleges with similar degree levels) | Top 19% | ![]() |
| Selectivity (based on % of applicants accepted) (vs. all colleges) | Top 20% | ![]() |
| Student SAT scores (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 20% | ![]() |
| % of degrees in business and management (vs. colleges of similar size) | Top 20% | ![]() |
Notable:
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) affiliation
Accepts some high school credits
Grants credits for AP courses
Offers distance learning
Career counseling
Career services
Student employment services
Remedial classes for students
Option to study abroad
Offers part-time study
On-campus library
Offers campus housing
Tenure system for quality teaching
Has ROTC (army, air force)
Offers athletic scholarships
NCAA athletic conference member
Try our unique CollegeMatch™ tool to find schools similar to TCU.
Click occupation names for extensive details, including salary and other job data.
(Based on an automated mapping of degrees popular at TCU with government-defined occupation categories)
|
|
|
Career Stories from workers: daily activities, job tips, best/worst job aspects, training, etc.
Daily Career & Education News from our staff. We're an approved Google News provider!
Resource Center. A starting point for all CityTownInfo career and college resources.
Career Overviews of hundreds of careers: descriptions, salaries, forecasts, schools, more.
Best Careers Not Requiring Degrees: Good pay, job growth, low need for degrees.
Helpful Articles, many in "how-to" format; e.g., "How to Become a Chef".
These lists link to thousands of detailed school profiles.
Colleges by State. Nearly every college and trade school in the country.
Colleges Listed Alphabetically. About 7,000 colleges & trade schools, including online schools.
Colleges by Major City. Browse cities with multiple college options.
Online Colleges. Colleges with online degree programs.
Graduate Schools by State. Colleges offering graduate degree programs.
Graduate Schools by Major City. Find cities with multiple graduate school options.