Is TCU test optional?

We haven't confirmed TCU's test policy for 2026–27. Check their admissions site; many colleges have changed their policy since 2020.

What is TCU's acceptance rate?

44% of applicants were admitted in 2025–26, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 9,925 of 22,307 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 21%, from 18,423 in 2015 to 22,307 in 2024, and TCU's admit rate went from 43% to 44%.

What ACT score do you need for TCU?

21% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 26–31, with a median of 30. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1110–1330 works out to about 22–29.

Does applying early decision help at TCU?

68% of early decision applicants were admitted (935 of 1,373), against 44% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at TCU?

396 of the 1,083 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 37%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for TCU? (Middle 50%: 1110–1330)

First-year students at TCU who sent an SAT scored 1110–1330, with a median of 1240 (Common Data Set 2025–26). TCU admits 44% of applicants.

Texas Christian University · Fort Worth, TX

Where your score lands at TCU

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1110–1330, median 1240

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier TCU is for you and whether to send your score.

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TCU by the numbers

Admit rate: 44%
Middle 50% SAT: 1110–1330
Median SAT: 1240
About on the ACT: 22–29
Sent an SAT: 27%

Test policy not confirmed for 2026–27 · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2025–26; admit rate from it or IPEDS

TCU admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 21%, from 18,423 in 2015 to 22,307 in 2024, and TCU's admit rate went from 43% to 44%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	22,307	9,925	44%
2023	20,517	8,740	43%
2022	16,197	9,087	56%
2021	19,782	10,606	54%
2020	21,145	10,155	48%
2019	19,028	8,966	47%
2018	20,156	8,210	41%
2017	19,740	8,110	41%
2016	19,972	7,506	38%
2015	18,423	7,974	43%

In fall 2024, 2,453 of the 9,925 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at TCU

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?*

Under 1060Far reachHold
1060–1100ReachHold
1110–1230TargetHold
1240 and upTargetSend

900100011001200130014001500

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges. *Send it? assumes they're test optional; we haven't confirmed their policy.

TCU SAT sections and ACT

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	540	620	660
SAT Reading and Writing	560	630	680
SAT total	1110	1240	1330
ACT composite	26	30	31

Of enrolled first-year students, 27% sent an SAT and 21% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2025–26.

TCU early decision and waitlist

Early decision

935 of 1,373 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision68%
All applicants44%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

3,676 applicants were offered a spot, 1,083 took it, and 396 were admitted from it.

37%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2025–26.

TCU cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $36,660; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 86%
Median earnings: $68,424; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 11,334

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Sources

TCU Common Data Set 2025–26
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
TCU website
Texas Christian University

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1110–1330, and the median was 1240. At 1240 or higher you're above half of them. TCU admits 44% of applicants.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$