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texas state university admissions essay requirements

At Texas State, you can immerse yourself in learning experiences that prepare you to launch a career as an entrepreneur, to make life-changing discoveries in science and technology, or to flourish creatively and make your mark as an artist.

With 99 bachelor's degrees, we can help you find your path.

Almost half of our undergraduates are first-generation college students.

Financial aid was awarded to more than 27,000 students in 2022.

master's, specialist and doctoral programs can further your expertise.

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Texas State’s Annual Security Reports and Fire Safety Report

We value the safety of all members of the Texas State University community at our main campus in San Marcos, TX and separate campuses in San Marcos (ALERRT Campus) and Round Rock, TX. Texas State publishes a combined Annual Security and Fire Safety Report that contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in on-campus student housing facilities; in noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also provides fire statistics for any fires occurring in an on-campus student housing facility during the three most recent calendar years. The Fire Safety Report section and on-campus student housing statistics do not apply to Round Rock or the ALERRT Center, as those campuses do not currently have any student housing facilities. A paper copy of the report is available at Institutional Compliance and Ethics located at Elliott Hall A (201 Talbot Street, San Marcos, TX 78666), by calling (512) 245-4961, or by emailing [email protected] . Additionally, a PDF of the report can be accessed electronically at www.clery.txstate.edu/report .

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Texas State Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are Texas State's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

  • GPA requirements
  • Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
  • Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Texas State and build a strong application.

School location: San Marcos, TX

This school is also known as: Texas State University

Admissions Rate: 87.7%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at Texas State is 87.7% . For every 100 applicants, 88 are admitted.

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This means the school is lightly selective . The school will have their expected requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores. If you meet their requirements, you're almost certain to get an offer of admission. But if you don't meet Texas State's requirements, you'll be one of the unlucky few people who gets rejected.

image description

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We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

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Get Into Your Top Choice School

Texas State GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.31

The average GPA at Texas State is 3.31 .

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(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. This school did not officially report its average GPA, but we've estimated it here using data from over 1,000 schools.)

With a GPA of 3.31, Texas State accepts below-average students . It's OK to be a B-average student, with some A's mixed in. It'd be best to avoid C's and D's, since application readers might doubt whether you can handle the stress of college academics.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

Texas State hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to Texas State will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

Texas State SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1080

The average SAT score composite at Texas State is a 1080 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes Texas State Competitive for SAT test scores.

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Texas State SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 990, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1170. In other words, a 990 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1170 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

Texas State has the Score Choice policy of "Contact School."

This means that the school wants you to contact them to learn more about their Score Choice policies. Keep reading - we may have extra notes about this from our own expert research.

image description

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

Get eBook: 5 Tips for 160+ Points

Texas State ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, Texas State likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 23

The average ACT score at Texas State is 23. This score makes Texas State Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 19, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 26.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 19 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to Texas State, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 19.

image description

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

Free eBook: 5 Tips to 4+ Points on the ACT

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

Texas State considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average . Aim for a 990 SAT or a 19 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission. As long as you meet the rest of the application requirements below, you'll be a shoo-in.

But if you score below our recommended target score, you may be one of the very few unlucky people to get rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

  • 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
  • 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
  • 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
  • 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
  • 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

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  • Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
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Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of Texas State here.

Application Requirements Overview

  • Common Application Not accepted
  • Electronic Application Available
  • Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Interview Not required
  • Application Fee $75
  • Fee Waiver Available? Available
  • Other Notes

Testing Requirements

  • SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
  • SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
  • SAT Subject Tests
  • Scores Due in Office July 15

Coursework Requirements

  • Subject Required Years
  • Foreign Language 2
  • Social Studies 2
  • Electives 7

Deadlines and Early Admissions

  • Offered? Deadline Notification
  • Yes July 15 Rolling

Admissions Office Information

  • Address: 601 San Marcos, TX 78666
  • Phone: (512) 245-2111 x2111
  • Fax: (512) 245-8044
  • Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in Texas State, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Texas State.

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Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than Texas State. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

image description

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for Texas State, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

image description

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for Texas State, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Texas State is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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Texas State University

texas state university admissions essay requirements

Our 38,000 undergraduate and graduate students can choose from more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs — from biology to music to business to geography and more. Students may also find the personalized support and opportunities they need to succeed beyond the classroom.

Academic programs.

  • Agricultural Science
  • Art & Design
  • Communication
  • Computer Science
  • Criminal Justice
  • Engineering
  • Family and Consumer Science
  • Finance/Accounting
  • Government/Political Science
  • Health Science
  • International Studies
  • Liberal Arts
  • Performing Arts
  • Pre-Dentistry
  • Pre-Medicine
  • Pre-Pharmacy
  • Pre-Physical Therapy
  • Pre-Veterinary Medicine
  • Social Science
  • Visual Arts

Student experience

  • Co-op/Internship Opportunities
  • Disability Services
  • First-Generation Support Services
  • Hispanic Serving Institution
  • Intramural/Club Sports
  • LGBTQIA Services
  • Low-Income Support Services
  • Military/Veteran Services
  • Night Class Offerings
  • On-Campus Housing
  • Outdoor Recreation
  • ROTC Program
  • Student Government
  • Student Programming
  • Study Abroad
  • Tutoring and Mentoring Services
  • Undergraduate Research

Application information

Find out about requirements, fees, and deadlines

Check our application deadlines

Steps to apply.

  • Complete the online application.

Pay the application fee (need-based  fee waivers  are available).

Send your high school transcript (by mail, document uploader, or electronic service).

Have your  official college transcripts sent  by the institution (if applicable).

Have your SAT or ACT scores sent by the testing agency (not required for students ranked in the top 75% of their graduating class).

Submit an application essay (optional).  

Have  official transcript(s) sent  from all colleges and universities attended.

Submit your high school transcript or GED certificate with scores (if 15 or fewer credit hours completed or to satisfy  foreign language requirement ).

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Additional Information

There are no problems we cannot solve together, and very few we can solve by ourselves. Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th President of the United States and graduate of Texas State University

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Admissions office

School location

429 N. Guadalupe San Marcos , TX 78666 , United States of America

Phone number

512-245-2364

For first-year students

Admissions website.

www.admissions.txstate.edu/

Financial aid website

www.finaid.txstate.edu/

Undocumented or DACA students

www.admissions.txst.edu/future-students/undocumented-daca.html

For transfer students

Guaranteed admission website.

www.admissions.txst.edu/future-students/transfer/admission-requirements.html

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texas state university admissions essay requirements

Texas State University

Cost & scholarships.

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Your chances

Acceptance rate, acceptance rate breakdown, applicant breakdown, average net cost after aid.

Published costs and averages can be misleading: they don’t fully account for your family’s finances (for financial aid) or your academic profile (for scholarships).

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How to apply, tests typically submitted, enrolled breakdown by gender, race & ethnicity diversity, special academic offering, study abroad, credit for ap exams, offers graduate degree, academic and career counseling, similar schools.

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Announcements:

PRIORITY deadline for applications is February 1st, 2024. Applications accepted until April 1, 2024. 

Application Overview

  • Applying for Fall:   completed  online application
  • Review the requirements for program admissions, and application procedures.
  • The Ph.D. selection committee screens applications using the published Ph.D. Admissions Criteria and selects those to be interviewed. All applicants, including those not selected for an interview, will be notified in writing of their status. 

General Admission Policies

Application Deadline

Minimum Requirements for Admission

  • Completed Texas State Graduate College application.
  • Copies of transcripts from any 4-year college or university attended, including evidence of a master’s degree from an accredited university, can be uploaded into the application system. Transcripts are not necessary if the master’s degree was earned at Texas State. If accepted into the program, official transcripts from the previous universities will need to be submitted.
  • An application fee.
  • TOEFL score for students from countries where English is not the first language.
  • An essay of approximately 500 words that describes the applicant’s background and professional goals including his or her rationale for pursuing a doctoral degree.
  • A current resume.
  • Name and contact information for 3 references. The Graduate College will email submission instructions to each reference.

The Ph.D. Teaching Faculty Committee will consider the following factors in deciding whether to admit an applicant to the program; strengths in one area may offset shortcomings in another:

  • Evidence of a completed master's degree from an accredited university in an area related to proposed studies, with a a competitive grade point average for courses applied to the master's degree.
  • Review of an essay of approximately 500 words in length describing the applicant’s background and professional goals. This should include the rationale for pursuing a doctoral degree.
  • An interview with program faculty.

Review of three reference forms, addressing the applicant’s professional and academic background.

  • Pay for College

texas state university admissions essay requirements

Admission Priority Dates & Deadlines

Applying by the Fall Priority Date ensures priority consideration for admission, scholarships, and more. All applications and required documents must be received by the posted deadline.

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Summer 2024

Essays & Short Answers

Summer/Fall 2025 Essay

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Please keep your essay between 500–650 words (typically two to three paragraphs).

Spring 2025 Essays

All freshman Spring 2025 applicants must submit a required essay:

  • UT Austin Required Essay in the Common App, or
  • Topic A in ApplyTexas

Please keep your essay between 500–700 words (typically two to three paragraphs).

Spring 2025 Essay Topic

Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

Submitting Your Essay

You can submit your essays:

  • In conjunction with your application.
  • Using the Document Upload System in MyStatus.

*Students do not need to submit other Common App essays. We’ll only review what is required.

Short Answers

  • Submit the required short answers to prompts in your admission application.
  • Answers are limited to no more than 40 lines, or about 250–300 words per prompt, typically the length of one paragraph.

Summer/Fall 2025 Prompts

  • Why are you interested in the major you indicated as your first-choice major?
  • Tell us more about one of the activities included in your application. This may include an extracurricular activity, a club/organization, volunteer activity, work or a family responsibility.
  • Think of all the activities — both in and outside of school — that you have been involved with during high school. Which one are you most proud of and why? ( Guidance for student s: This can include an extracurricular activity, a club/organization, volunteer activity, work or a family responsibility.)

Optional Short Answer

Please share background on events or special circumstances that you feel may have impacted your high school academic performance.

Spring 2025 Prompts

  • Describe how your experiences, perspectives, talents, and/or your involvement in leadership activities (at your school, job, community or within your family) will help you to make an impact both in and out of the classroom while enrolled at UT.
  • The core purpose of The University of Texas at Austin is, “To Transform Lives for the Benefit of Society.” Please share how you believe your experience at UT Austin will prepare you to “Change the World” after you graduate.

Submitting Your Short Answers

You can submit your short answers with either your Common App or Apply Texas application. Short answer responses must be completed in order to submit your application.

  • Transfer applicants must submit one essay responding to Topic A.
  • Applicants to the School of Architecture and Studio Art, Art Education and Art History are required to upload Topic D in addition to Topic A. 

Essay Topics

Topic a (required).

The statement of purpose will provide an opportunity to explain any extenuating circumstances that you feel could add value to your application. You may also want to explain unique aspects of your academic background or valued experiences you may have had that relate to your academic discipline. The statement of purpose is not meant to be a listing of accomplishments in high school/college or a record of your participation in school-related activities. Rather, this is your opportunity to address the admission committee directly and to let us know more about you as an individual, in a manner that your transcripts and the other application information cannot convey.

Topic D (School of Architecture majors and Studio Art, Art Education and Art History majors only)

Personal interaction with objects, images and spaces can be so powerful as to change the way one thinks about particular issues or topics. For your intended area of study (architecture, art history, studio art, visual art studies/art education), describe an experience where instruction in that area or your personal interaction with an object, image or space effected this type of change in your thinking. What did you do to act upon your new thinking and what have you done to prepare yourself for further study in this area?

Submitting Your Essay(s)

Graduate School

Graduate Admissions Banner

Graduate Admissions

Thank you for your interest in graduate studies at the Texas Tech University. Our online application system is designed to help you easily navigate through the application process and ensure you complete your application in a timely manner.

Before you apply

Before you begin your application to Texas Tech, please make sure to read all the application instructions carefully. You could find these instructions specific to the program you are applying at the time you start your application.

  • Deadlines: Since application deadlines vary by program, be sure to confirm your intended program's deadline to ensure that you apply on time.
  • Applicants with Foreign Credentials: Please click here to see specific application information before beginning the application.

Ready to Apply

  • Unofficial copies of transcripts, and test scores are required for application evaluation purposes. If admitted, you will be required to submit official transcripts, diplomas/degree certificates, and test scores. Please do not send official transcripts until you have received a notice of acceptance from Texas Tech Graduate School.
  • Provide Program Materials: In addition to transcripts and test scores, most Texas Tech graduate programs require supplemental materials for admission review. These materials may include (but are not limited to) items such as a statement of purpose, recommendations, writing samples, creative portfolio, etc. Supplemental materials are reviewed by the department only, not the Office of Graduate Admission. Please refer to the homepage of your intended graduate department as well as the instructions on the "Program Materials" quadrant on our online application to verify which supplemental materials are needed. You may also find the required material here.
  • While you will be able to add to certain segments on the application (e.g. test scores) post submission, you will not be able to make revisions once the application has been submitted.
  • Statement on use of generative AI: As an emerging research institution, Texas Tech University values exploring new technologies such as generative AI tools like ChatGPT. However, we value the applicant's unique voice in their personal statements, writing samples and other application materials. Should you use generative AI, it is important that the use only complements your original ideas and not be used to compose your work entirely. We hold prospective graduate students to the same academic integrity standards as our current students and applicants are expected to abide Texas Tech University's policy on Academic Integrity .

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  • College of Health Professions
  • St. David’s School of Nursing
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Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) Major in Nursing

Minimum required: 120 semester credit hours, admission requirements.

  • The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree with a major in Nursing requires admission to Texas State University prior to submitting the St. David's School of Nursing application. For more information visit:  http://www.nursing.txstate.edu/
  • Texas State students interested in pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree will be enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences pre-nursing concentration upon entry into Texas State University.  A separate admission application for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is required.   
  • The priority admission application period for the Nursing program begins September 15 and closes December 15. The general application period begins September 15 and closes January 15.
  • Admission to the undergraduate major in nursing is competitive and selective. One hundred (100) highly qualified students are admitted each fall.
  • An application fee must accompany the St. David’s School of Nursing application.
  • Additional criteria include a personal persuasive essay, scores from the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) test version 7, pre-nursing entrance assessment, and an interview of selected candidates with the admissions committee.

General Requirements

The general education core curriculum courses are listed in the degree plan below along with the statewide component code number. See the  General Education Core Curriculum  section of this catalog for the Texas State requirements and options in the core curriculum, including Honors courses.

For transfer students, 34 semester credit hours may be transferred from a Texas public institution of higher education for the Nursing Field of Study and be applied to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with a major in Nursing at Texas State University. More information about the Field of Study is available in the Academic Policies section of this catalog. The transferable Texas Common Course Number (TCCN) is listed below the Texas State University course number in the following course list.

  • Students must complete a minimum of 36 advanced hours (3000 or 4000 level courses).
  • Nine hours of writing intensive (WI) courses are required for graduation.
  • Any student who did not complete at least two years of the same foreign language in high school is required to take 6-8 hours of the same foreign language.
  • To graduate with a B.S.N., a student must successfully complete all nursing courses with a “C” or better in addition to completing all prerequisite courses.
  • All students must have attained a 2.0 or higher Texas State University GPA with a minimum of a 2.50 GPA in the Nursing major to graduate.
  • All students must complete the B.S.N. program in three years from the time of first admission.
  • Each nursing course is offered only once each academic year; therefore, progress in the program is delayed if the student fails a course. A student may repeat a nursing course only once. A second nursing course failure or withdrawal from nursing courses will result in the student being dismissed from the nursing program. However, the student is not dismissed from Texas State University.

Course Requirements 

If US 1100 is waived, the student must have 120 hours to graduate. See College Advising Center. 

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With State Bans on D.E.I., Some Universities Find a Workaround: Rebranding

Welcome to the new “Office of Access and Engagement.” Schools are renaming departments and job titles to try to preserve diversity programs.

People shout while holding protest signs that resemble tombstones memorializing D.E.I. programs.

By Stephanie Saul

At the University of Tennessee, the campus D.E.I. program is now called the Division of Access and Engagement.

Louisiana State University also rebranded its diversity office after Jeff Landry, a Trump-backed Republican, was elected governor last fall. Its Division of Inclusion, Civil Rights and Title IX is now called the Division of Engagement, Civil Rights and Title IX.

And at the University of Oklahoma, the diversity office is now the Division of Access and Opportunity .

In what appears to be an effort to placate or, even head fake, opponents of diversity and equity programs, university officials are relaunching their D.E.I. offices under different names, changing the titles of officials, and rewriting requirements to eliminate words like “diversity” and “equity.” In some cases, only the words have changed.

For some universities, the opposition to diversity programs comes at a challenging time. They face an incoming student shortage, the result of declining birthrates and skepticism of the value of an expensive college degree. Others are worried about how the ban on race-conscious admissions will affect the complexion of their campuses.

In either case, many college officials feel they need D.E.I. offices to market to an increasingly diverse generation of students and the faculty who might attract them. While no two campus diversity programs are exactly alike, they often preside over a variety of functions, including operating student cultural centers, ensuring regulatory compliance and hosting racial bias workshops for students and faculty members.

Conservative critics have questioned the cost of what they call D.E.I. bureaucracies, which in some places have budgets reaching into the tens of millions of dollars, and attacked the programs for being left-wing, indoctrination factories.

In a recent webinar making the case for the continuation of D.E.I. efforts, Khalil Gibran Muhammad, a professor of history, race and public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, said the backlash is based on “a few anecdotal examples of some terrible training module that went haywire.”

In announcing the renaming of the Louisiana State D.E.I. program, the school's president, William F. Tate IV, said that there had been no political pressure.

But he also recently told the faculty senate that “we most certainly have paid attention to the ripple effects that have happened to campuses around the country.” He vowed that the university, one of the most diverse in the Southeastern Conference, is “still committed to D.E.I.”

Todd Woodward, a university spokesman, said that the idea of “engagement,” which is now used instead of “inclusion,” has been the centerpiece of the university’s strategic plan since before Governor Landry was elected.

According to The Chronicle of Higher Education , at least 82 bills opposing D.E.I. in higher education have been filed in more than 20 states since 2023. Of those, 12 have become law, including in Idaho, Indiana, Florida and Texas.

This has led to layoffs and closures. The University of Florida recently announced that it would lay off more than a dozen diversity employees. At the University of Texas at Austin, the Multicultural Engagement Center closed. And about 60 administrators received notices that they would lose their jobs, according to the state chapters of the N.A.A.C.P. and American Association of University Professors. Some Texas campuses shut down their L.G.B.T.Q. centers.

But some schools, even in states with D.E.I. crackdowns, have reacted more moderately.

Florida State University, in Tallahassee, seems to be taking a “damage mitigation approach,” Will Hanley, a history professor at F.S.U., said in an interview.

The school has reshuffled jobs and turned the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Office into the Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance and Engagement .

But there have been limits to how far it will go.

F.S.U. students are required to take two “diversity” courses, which include dozens of topics like Buddhist ethics, German literature and L.G.B.T.Q. history. A faculty committee recently proposed renaming the requirement “perspectives and awareness.”

The faculty senate rejected the idea. In the senate meeting, Dr. Hanley, who specializes in the Middle East, said that the new name would obfuscate the requirement’s very intent.

“In the context of attacks on D.E.I., I wondered if changing the name of this requirement gives weight to those attacks,” he said, according to minutes of the meeting.

In Georgia, David Bray, a finance professor at Kennesaw State University, sees things another way, and says that diversity officials should have been eliminated rather than given a new title. Kennesaw State announced last December that its diversity chief would now be the vice president overseeing the Division of Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership Development and Inclusive Excellence .

The move came after the state Board of Regents approved a policy change barring Georgia’s 26 public colleges from requiring applicants and employees to fill out diversity statements.

“It’s the same lipstick on the ideological pig,” said Dr. Bray, who is gay and opposes diversity programs, arguing that they promote equal outcomes rather than equal opportunity. “As soon as D.E.I. was uncovered as political left, they now reinvent the language and have morphed into the ‘sense of belonging’ crew.”

But for many administrators, name changes are often an attempt to keep the mission of diversity programs intact.

Donde Plowman, the chancellor of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, told the faculty senate in November that the school had “not historically done well” attracting students from underrepresented groups to its campus. The percentage of Black students declined between 2020 and 2023, from 5.5 percent of total enrollment to 4.2 percent.

After a professor asked whether prospective faculty and lawmakers “looking for red meat” would be put off by the name change of the D.E.I. program, the Division of Diversity and Engagement, Dr. Plowman said, “What has happened is those words have become weaponized — they create noise and distractions away from the real work.”

Thus, the newly renamed Division of Access and Engagement.

Dr. Plowman has “consistently discussed the change to access and engagement on campus as a broadening of our mission to reach and support students, faculty and staff,” said Tisha Benton, a spokeswoman for the chancellor.

Tennessee lawmakers seemed wise to the workaround. A bill introduced in January specifically stated that no such offices should be operating “regardless of name or designation.”

The legislation had seemed destined for passage in the overwhelmingly Republican legislature. But the mood shifted during a committee meeting after members considered a letter from the Knoxville Jewish Alliance, which expressed concern that the ban would limit how the University of Tennessee reached out with support for Jewish students.

The bill was killed, unanimously, on a voice vote.

Stephanie Saul reports on colleges and universities, with a recent focus on the dramatic changes in college admissions and the debate around diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education. More about Stephanie Saul

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texas state university admissions essay requirements

Transfer Admission Requirements

Assured admission.

To receive assured admission as a transfer student, you must meet the following minimum requirements at the time of application. Only completed course work submitted prior to the application deadline will be considered for admission purposes.

14 or fewer Transfer Credit Hours

  • 2.0 Cumulative GPA
  • Meet Freshman Admission Standards

15-29 Transfer Credit Hours

  • 2.5 Cumulative GPA

30+ Transfer Credit Hours

  • 2.25 Cumulative GPA

Credit by exam (AP, IB, CLEP) is not considered for transfer admission purposes. You must also be eligible to return to all previous institutions, regardless of GPA or degrees received (e.g., free of suspensions, dismissal, or forced withdrawal).

If you do not meet assured admission requirements, your application will be considered through our holistic review process and additional information may be requested.

Additional Program-Specific Requirements

Some majors and programs, like those in the McCoy College of Business, have entry requirements that must be completed in addition to receiving admission to the university.

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Academic Forgiveness

Some prospective transfer students may be eligible for one of these alternative admission programs. Students interested in either the Academic Fresh Start or Academic Bankruptcy program need to consult with an admissions counselor first before pursuing one of these options. These programs are intended for prospective students only and cannot be applied after the student has been accepted.

Academic Fresh Start

Under the provisions of the Texas Education Code, the Academic Fresh Start program allows a Texas resident to apply for admission and elect to have all academic course work earned 10 or more years prior to the requested enrollment date ignored for admission purposes. Individuals who choose Academic Fresh Start, including former Texas State students, must submit Academic Fresh Start paperwork prior to being admitted, must meet current published admission criteria for Texas State and must submit official records from all colleges attended.

Under this policy, all college-level work done ten years prior to the semester applied for is eliminated from computation of the GPA and none of it is applied toward a degree at Texas State. Such work, however, will not be removed from the student’s record.

Fresh Start admission will be based on course work completed within the last ten years.

Academic Bankruptcy

Students who have not enrolled in any accredited college or university for five or more consecutive calendar years immediately prior to admission to Texas State may request permission to declare academic bankruptcy prior to being admitted. Individuals who choose the Academic Bankruptcy Policy, including former Texas State students, must submit Academic Bankruptcy paperwork prior to being admitted.

Under this policy, all college-level work done at an earlier date is eliminated from computation of the GPA and none of it is applied toward a degree at Texas State. Such work, however, will not be removed from the student’s record.

Students granted Academic Bankruptcy are admitted on academic probation.

Requesting Academic Forgiveness

Students who wish to request academic forgiveness must first meet with an admissions counselor to evaluate which option is most appropriate. Click the button below and complete the request form for an appointment.

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COMMENTS

  1. Freshman Admission Essays

    An essay is not required for admission, but it is highly recommended.Essay topics A, B, and C below are the same topics found on theApplyTexas application. If you choose to submit an admission essay, select oneof these topics. Essays may be submitted through your ApplyTexas or CommonApp account or by using our document uploader.

  2. Freshman Admission Requirements

    We recommend students complete the following curriculum or equivalent for assured admission. Students applying without this curriculum will go through our review process. 4 credits of English. Including: English I, II, III and IV. 4 credits of Math. Including: algebra I and II, geometry and advanced math courses such as pre-calculus, calculus ...

  3. Apply for Admission : Undergraduate Admissions

    Steps to Apply. Complete and submit the online application at ApplyTexas or Common App (essay not required). Pay the application fee (need-based fee waivers are available). Have official transcript (s) sent from all colleges and universities attended. Submit your high school transcript or GED certificate with scores (if 15 or fewer credit hours ...

  4. How to Apply : Undergraduate Admissions : Texas State University

    Texas State University will not require SAT or ACT test scores for students ranked in the top 75% of their high school classes for admission to the university, application to the Honors College, or for consideration for Assured and Competitive Scholarships. ... and the School of Music—have entry requirements that must be completed in addition ...

  5. Submitting Required Application Documents

    Returning (Readmit) Students - $40. International Students - $90. Evaluation of Foreign Credentials (for domestic applicants) - $15. Pay the fee. Application fee waivers are subject to the approval of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and are granted based on evidence of financial need.

  6. Undergraduate Admissions : Texas State University

    Texas State is a community of support for your personal health and safety, as well as your academic and professional growth. ... Richard A. Castro Undergraduate Admissions Center 429 N. Guadalupe Street San Marcos, TX 78666. 512.245.TXST (8978) onestop.txst.edu . Download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Site Map. Facebook; Twitter;

  7. Freshman Admission

    State of Texas Uniform Admission Standards. Per state law, TEC 51.803-51.809, Uniform Admissions Policy (UAP) requires applicants to four-year public universities like Texas State to meet one of the following college readiness standards, in order to be eligible for admission consideration.(Note: Students who attend an out-of-state high school are exempt from the UAP.)

  8. Application Procedures and Fee

    ACT/SAT score requirements are available on the Freshman admission requirements webpage. (Optional) Submit one of the application essays. Top. 2023-2024 Catalogs. 111 J.C. Kellam 601 University Drive San Marcos, Texas 78666-4684 Phone: 512.245.2367. About Texas State; About This Site; Emergency Info;

  9. Texas State University's 2023-24 Essay Prompts

    Common App Personal Essay. Required. 650 words. The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores?

  10. Admissions : Texas State University

    Admissions. At Texas State, you can immerse yourself in learning experiences that prepare you to launch a career as an entrepreneur, to make life-changing discoveries in science and technology, or to flourish creatively and make your mark as an artist. Visit. Request Info.

  11. How to Get In: Texas State Admission Requirements

    Application requirements; In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into Texas State and build a strong application. School location: San Marcos, TX. This school is also known as: Texas State University. Admissions Rate: 87.7%. If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate.

  12. Apply to Texas State University

    Apply for first-year Apply for transfer. Explore. Texas State University. Our 38,000 undergraduate and graduate students can choose from more than 200 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs — from biology to music to business to geography and more. Students may also find the personalized support and opportunities they need to ...

  13. Transfer Admission

    Transfer applicants must meet the following requirements: Submit a transfer application for admission by the appropriate Admission Priority Date. Submit a non-refundable application fee of $75 (check, money order, American Express, VISA, Mastercard, or Discover) or apply for a fee waiver. Submit final high school transcript or GED certificate.

  14. FAQs : Undergraduate Admissions : Texas State University

    Essay topics can be viewed on the admission essay page as well as on page nine of the ApplyTexas application. ... on top of what is needed to earn general admission to the University. These program entry requirements could include having a higher GPA, taking certain courses or participating in an audition process. Admission to Texas State does ...

  15. Texas State University Admission Requirements

    1085. SAT 25th-75th. 990 - 1180. Students Submitting SAT. 50%. Math. Average (25th - 75th) 490 - 580. Reading and Writing.

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    Admissions; Essay prompt; Your chances-Acceptance rate 70%. Public school in Texas with 33,100 total undergraduate students . Suburban. Southwest. Commuter college. On campus housing. D1 Football, D1 Basketball. ... Texas State University is a public school in Texas with 33,100 total undergraduate students

  17. Admission Policies

    Completed Texas State Graduate College application. Copies of transcripts from any 4-year college or university attended, including evidence of a master's degree from an accredited university, can be uploaded into the application system. Transcripts are not necessary if the master's degree was earned at Texas State.

  18. Admission Priority Dates & Deadlines

    December 1, 2023. Deadline for Applications and all Required Documents. June 1, 2024. Student Type. Transfer / Second Bachelor's. Priority Date. February 15, 2024. Deadline for Applications and all Required Documents. July 15, 2024.

  19. Essays & Short Answers

    Please keep your essay between 500-650 words (typically two to three paragraphs). Spring 2025 Essays. All freshman Spring 2025 applicants must submit a required essay: UT Austin Required Essay in the Common App, or; Topic A in ApplyTexas; Please keep your essay between 500-700 words (typically two to three paragraphs). Spring 2025 Essay Topic

  20. Freshman : Undergraduate Admissions : Texas State University

    Admissions. When applying to Texas State, your overall academic record is the most important part of your application, but we'll also look at what you've done outside the classroom. Look at our FRESHMAN ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS to learn what it takes to become a Bobcat.

  21. Best Nursing Schools: State-by-State Guide 2024

    Choosing the right school is crucial if you embark on a nursing career. Our comprehensive guide spotlights the top nursing school in each U.S. state for 2024. From prestigious programs to hidden ...

  22. How to Apply

    If admitted, you will be required to submit official transcripts, diplomas/degree certificates, and test scores. Please do not send official transcripts until you have received a notice of acceptance from Texas Tech Graduate School. Provide Program Materials: In addition to transcripts and test scores, most Texas Tech graduate programs require ...

  23. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) Major in Nursing

    Minimum required: 120 semester credit hours Admission Requirements. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree with a major in Nursing requires admission to Texas State University prior to submitting the St. David's School of Nursing application.

  24. With States Banning DEI, Some Universities Find a Workaround

    By Stephanie Saul. April 12, 2024. At the University of Tennessee, the campus D.E.I. program is now called the Division of Access and Engagement. Louisiana State University also rebranded its ...

  25. Transfer : Undergraduate Admissions : Texas State University

    Ideal for students completing a degree or professionals wanting to boost their careers, the Round Rock Campus offers undergraduate and graduate programs in nursing and healthcare, computer science, education and more. New facilities include state-of-the-art training labs in healthcare. Centrally located for the Austin, Round Rock and Georgetown ...

  26. Should the SAT still matter after all these years? Why some colleges

    The longest-enduring standardized college admissions test in the nation, the SAT has faced decades of controversy over bias and criticism for reducing aspiring college students to a test score ...

  27. Transfer Admission Requirements

    Academic Fresh Start. Under the provisions of the Texas Education Code, the Academic Fresh Start program allows a Texas resident to apply for admission and elect to have all academic course work earned 10 or more years prior to the requested enrollment date ignored for admission purposes. Individuals who choose Academic Fresh Start, including former Texas State students, must submit Academic ...