Undergraduate Admissions Requirements

Texas Southern University is an accredited higher education institution that provides equal educational opportunity. Entering applicants should meet at least one of the following criteria for unconditional admission to the University.

• Students with a high school GPA of 2.5 or higher, OR a minimum ACT Score of 17, or a minimum SAT score of 900;
• Automatic admissions for students graduating in the top 25% of their high school graduating class with a GPA of higher than 2.5;
• Holistic/Individual Review for students outside of the admissions criteria. This review will be completed prior to a formal denial being issued. The percentage of students admitted using this criterion shall not exceed 30%; and
• Dual Credit Completion: Students who have completed an associate degree at the time of application and have a 2.0 cumulative GPA will be automatically admitted.

Candidates for undergraduate admission must identify the appropriate category below and follow the indicated steps:

1. Freshman Admission - Citizens of the United States with diplomas from accredited high schools, GED equivalents, or equivalent examinations from foreign countries that attest to the fact that they have attained the high school standard and who have never enrolled for college credits must:

1. Submit an application to Texas Southern University, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, Texas 77004-9987, or electronically at www.applytexas.org
2. Submit the required non-refundable $42 application fee or approved fee waiver.
3. Submit an official transcript from an accredited high school that (1) includes the date of graduation, (2) the student’s grade point average and class ranking, and (3) for Texas high school graduates, indication of successful completion of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) examination.
4. Submit either ACT or SAT scores.
5. Home-schooled students and students who have earned a GED will be individually reviewed for admission and must meet the minimum 17 ACT composite score or 900 SAT score (critical reading and math sections). Texas residents must also submit the Texas Private High School Certification completed by the certifying home-school official for admission.
6. Students seeking dual credit(s) must request an official transcript be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions from the institution where the dual credit(s) was earned, in addition to the official high school transcript.
7. Students seeking credit based on Advanced Placement (AP) scores or International Baccalaureate (IB) scores must request from the testing agency an official score report be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions prior to the start of enrollment of the requested enrollment semester.
8. Summer of Success Program.  Freshmen applicants who do not meet the University’s admission requirement may be individually reviewed by the University Admissions Committee. Applicants considered for individual review may be required to submit additional documents (e.g., essays, personal statements, interview) to gain admission to the University. Additional Summer of Success information can be viewed at www.tsu.edu/sos

(II) Transfer Admission - Citizens of the United States who have attended another college or university prior to seeking admission to Texas Southern University must:

1. Submit an application to Texas Southern University, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, Texas 77004-9987, or electronically at www.applytexas.org.
2. Submit the required non-refundable $42 application fee or approved fee waiver.
3. Submit an official transcript from each college or university previously attended. Transcripts should be sent from the issuing institution(s) electronically; however, they may be hand-carried and delivered in an envelope bearing the unbroken seal of the issuing institution(s).
4. Submit placement test scores or evidence of test exemption eligibility.
5. All transfer applicants who do not meet the University’s admission requirement may be individually reviewed by the University Admissions Committee. Applicants considered for individual review may be required to submit additional documents (e.g., high school transcript, ACT/SAT test scores, interview) to gain admission to the University.

(III) Permanent Residents Freshman Admission – Permanent residents of the United States who have diplomas from accredited high schools, GED equivalents, or equivalent examinations from foreign countries that attest to the fact that they have attained the high school standard and who have never previously enrolled for college credits must:

1. Follow the same steps given above for citizens of the United States with diplomas from accredited high schools or GED equivalents.
2. In addition, students must provide proof of permanent resident status and complete Documentation of Proof of Citizenship/Naturalization Form from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
3. Submit all specifically needed documents to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Texas Southern University 3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, Texas 77004-9987.

(IV) Permanent Residents Transfer Admission - Permanent residents of the United States who wish to transfer from other accredited colleges and universities must:

1. Follow the same steps given above for citizens of the United States.
2. In addition, student must provide proof of permanent resident status and complete Documentation of Proof of Citizenship/Naturalization Form from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
3. Evaluation of foreign transcripts. All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by one of the University’s approved evaluation Agencies and the evaluation be submitted to the Office of International Student Admissions.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADMISSIONS

(V) International Freshman Admission - Students who have diplomas from foreign high schools, GED equivalents, or equivalent examinations from foreign countries that attest to the fact that they have attained the high school standard and who have never previously enrolled for college credits must:

1. Complete application online and submit all required documentation along with the required $78 non-refundable application fee.
2. Send proof of graduation from high school either in conjunction with the application or separately to the Office of International Student Admissions.
3. Provide a certificate of finance/affidavit of support either in conjunction with the application or sent separately to the Office of International Student Admissions.
4. Provide official proof of completion of the TOEFL examination, if applicable, to the Office of International Student Admissions. Applicants must have an earned a minimum TOEFL score of 61, IELTS score of 5.0, or other approved language proficiency exam to qualify for admission.
5. Submit ACT or SAT college entrance exam scores to the Office of International Student Admissions.
6. Request that the current or previously attended language program, if applicable, submit SEVIS information to the Office of International Student Admissions.

(VI) International Transfer Admission - Students who wish to transfer from other accredited colleges or universities must:

1. Complete application online and submit all required documentation along with the required $78 non-refundable application fee.
2. Request that official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended be sent directly to the Office of International Student Affairs. All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by one of the University’s approved evaluation agencies and the evaluation be submitted to the Office of International Student Admissions.
3. Provide a certificate of finance/affidavit of support either in conjunction with the application or sent separately to the Office of International Student Admissions.
4. Provide official proof of completion of the TOEFL examination, if applicable, to the Office of International Student Admissions. Applicants must have an earned a minimum TOEFL score of 61, IELTS score of 5.0, or other approved language proficiency exam to qualify for admission.
5. Request that the current or previously attended college or university submit SEVIS information to the Office of International Student Admissions.

NOTE: The authenticity of transcripts is critical to the admissions process. It is the responsibility of all International Students to have international transcripts translated by an approved accredited agency.

(VII) Post Baccalaureate Admission – Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree from another college or university prior to seeking admission to Texas Southern University must:

A.   Submit an online application to Texas Southern University for the Office of International Student Affairs at https://goapplytexas.org/.

B.   Submit the required $78 non-refundable application fee online at https://goapplytexas.org/. Other options are by-hand to Office of Student Accounting or by mail to:

Texas Southern University

C/O Office of International Student Affairs

3100 Cleburne Street

Houston, Texas 77004

C.   Request an official transcript from each college or university previously attended. Transcripts should be sent from the issuing institution(s); however, they may be hand-carried and delivered in an envelope bearing the unbroken seal of the issuing institution(s). All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by one of the University’s approved evaluation agencies and the evaluation be submitted to the Office of International Student Admissions.

D.   International applicants must also request that the previous college or university submit SEVIS information and provide a certificate of finance/affidavit of support to the Office of International Student Admissions.

(VIII) Transient Admission - Students who wish to attend the University for a specific period of time without applying for regular admission must:

A. Submit an application to Texas Southern University, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, Texas 77004-9987, or electronically at www.applytexas.org.

B. Submit the required non-refundable $42 application fee ($78 for International Transient Applicants).

C. Request that an official transcript or letter of good standing from the college or university in attendance be sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at the address above or by email at admissions@tsu.edu.

D. Transient admission can only be granted for summer semesters. Requests for transient admission beyond one academic semester may be considered but the applicant must reapply for transient admission for the subsequent semester(s) and provide additional documentation from the college or university in attendance regarding their academic standing with the institution.

(IX). Readmission of Former Students - Students who have not attended the University for more than one year and now wish to return must:

A.   Submit an application for readmission to Texas Southern University, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, Texas 77004-9987, or electronically at http://www.tsu.edu/admissions/readmission.html.

B.   Identify the category above that best fits your circumstances and complete the remaining listed steps.

C.   Students on academic probation or suspension must request permission from their academic dean’s office to gain readmission to the University.

*Note: The Admissions office makes no determination for students requesting readmission to TSU. Students seeking readmission based on academic probation/suspension are reviewed and decisions rendered solely by the Academic Departments.

In admitting first-time freshmen, the University abides by the uniform admission policy as defined in accordance with Texas Education Code Chapter 51, Subchapter S. Students’ high school grade point average, class ranking, and ACT/SAT test scores shall all factor into consideration for admission.

Students who are admitted by the University, but fail to enroll for a given semester, may request that their application be deferred and updated for a future semester. The application and associated fee will be honored for one (1) year from the original semester in which the application was made.

Effective October 1, 2013, all students under the age of 22 attending the university for the first time or returning to the university following a break in enrollment of at least one fall or spring semester, will be required to have the bacterial meningitis vaccination or an approved exemption prior to attending classes. To meet the immunization requirement, the student must provide proof of vaccination of bacterial meningitis during the five-year period preceding and at least 10 days prior to the first day of classes. Students are also encouraged to consult with a physician about the need for the immunization against bacterial meningitis to prevent the disease.

SENIORS IN GRADUATE COURSES

A senior at Texas Southern University who demonstrates superior scholastic ability and needs fewer than 12 semester hours to complete the bachelor’s degree may be permitted to take graduate courses. The head of the major department, the Dean of the undergraduate college, and the Dean of the Graduate School must approve requests from seniors for permission to take graduate courses. Permission to take graduate courses during the senior year does not constitute admission to the Graduate School. Moreover, such credits may not be applied toward fulfillment of the residence requirement for the master’s degree. No more than six (6) semester hours of graduate course work may be taken by seniors.