View source for Tarleton State University

{{Short description|Public university in Stephenville, Texas, US}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Tarleton State University
 | former_names           = The John Tarleton College<br>(1899–1917)<br> John Tarleton Agricultural College<br>(1917–1949)<br />Tarleton State College<br>(1949–1973)
 | image                  = Tarleton State University seal.svg
 | image_upright          = 0.7
 | image_size             = 
 | motto                  = 
 | established            = {{Start date and age|1899|9|7}}
 | endowment              = $42 million (2016)<ref>{{cite web | title=Tarleton State University - Profile, Rankings and Data | website=US News Best Colleges | date=10 March 2016 | url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/tarleton-3631 | access-date=31 July 2023}}</ref>
 | type                   = [[Public university|Public]] [[research university]]
 | president              = [[James L. Hurley]]
 | city                   = [[Stephenville, Texas]]
 | country                = U.S.
 | campus                 = Urban, {{cvt|1,973|acre}}
 | students               = 14,092 (fall 2022)<ref>{{cite web | title = College Navigator - Tarleton State University | language = en | access-date = 2024-08-11 | publisher = [[National Center for Education Statistics]] | url = https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?s=TX&id=228529}}</ref>
 | undergrad              = 12,012
 | postgrad               = 2,080
 | athletics_affiliations = {{hlist|[[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] – [[Western Athletic Conference|WAC]]|[[United Athletic Conference|UAC]]}}
 | sports_nickname        = [[Tarleton State Texans|Texans]]
 | colors                 = {{color box|#4F2D7F}}&nbsp;{{color box|#FFFFFF}} Purple & white
 | parent                 = [[Texas A&M University System]]
 | website                = {{URL|https://www.tarleton.edu}}
 | logo                   = Tarleton State University logo.svg
 | logo_size              = 250
}}

'''Tarleton State University''' is a [[Public university|public]] [[research university]] in [[Stephenville, Texas]], United States. It is a founding member of the [[Texas A&M University System]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tarleton.edu/home/index.html |title=Tarleton University web site |access-date=2018-09-23 |archive-date=2019-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322100257/https://www.tarleton.edu/home/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and enrolled over 15,000 students in the fall of 2022.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/about/index.html|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Tarleton State University|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Relations|first=Tarleton Media|title=Tarleton anticipates record fall enrollment despite pandemic|url=https://www.yourstephenvilletx.com/story/news/2020/08/18/tarleton-anticipates-record-fall-enrollment-despite-pandemic/42558771/|access-date=2020-10-26|website=Stephenville Empire-Tribune|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-10-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029014119/https://www.yourstephenvilletx.com/story/news/2020/08/18/tarleton-anticipates-record-fall-enrollment-despite-pandemic/42558771/|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is [[Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education|classified]] among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".<ref>{{cite web |title=Carnegie Classifications Institution Lookup |url=https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/lookup/view_institution.php?unit_id=228529 |publisher=[[American Council on Education]] |accessdate=March 8, 2023 |date=2023}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Entrance to Tarleton State University Picture 2230.jpg|right|thumb|Entrance sign to Tarleton State University in [[Stephenville, Texas]]]]
[[File:Tarleton State University August 2017 03 (Tarleton Center).jpg|thumb|right|Tarleton Center]]

'''John Tarleton College''' was founded in 1887 with an endowment from settler [[John Tarleton (American settler)|John Tarleton]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Guthrie|first=Chris|title=John Tarleton - Tarleton State University|url=https://www.tarleton.edu/library/crosstimbers/collections/tsucollection/TAN00040P.html|access-date=2020-07-31|website=www.tarleton.edu|language=en}}</ref> In 1917, U.S. Senator and Stephenville resident [[Henry W. Clark (1881-1959)|Henry Clark]] co-authored and presented legislation establishing '''John Tarleton Agricultural College''' as a member of the [[Texas A&M University system]], certifying the Junior College within the Educational System of Texas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Legislative Reference Library {{!}} Legislation {{!}} HB 598, 35th R.S. history |url=https://www.lrl.texas.gov/legis/BillSearch/billdetails.cfm?legSession=35-0&billTypeDetail=HB&billNumberDetail=598 |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=www.lrl.texas.gov}}</ref> In 1949, it was again renamed '''Tarleton State College''' then became a four-year degree-granting institution in 1959. Tarleton gained status as a university in 1973 adopting its current name, '''Tarleton State University'''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Past Presidents - Office of the President|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/president/pastpresidents.html|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Tarleton State University|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 2003 it began offering doctoral programs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tarleton State University: An Overview {{!}} Tarleton State University|url=http://catalog.tarleton.edu/undergrad/tarletonstateuniversityanoverview/|access-date=2020-07-30|website=catalog.tarleton.edu|archive-date=2020-07-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723030835/http://catalog.tarleton.edu/undergrad/tarletonstateuniversityanoverview/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Academics ==
{{Infobox US university ranking
<!-- U.S. rankings -->
| ARWU_NU  =
| Forbes   =
| THE_WSJ  = 371
| USNWR_NU = 373 <small>(tie)</small>
| Wamo_NU  = 243
<!-- Global rankings -->
| ARWU_W   =
| QS_W     =
| THES_W   =
| USNWR_W  =
}}
The university offers 85 undergraduate, 38 masters, 2 associate degree programs, and 2 doctoral programs.<ref name=":0" />

Degrees are offered through eight colleges:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Degrees - Become a Tarleton Texan|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/becomeatexan/degrees.html|access-date=2020-08-01|website=Tarleton State University|language=en-US}}</ref>

* Agriculture & Natural Resources
* Business 
* Education
* Graduate Studies
* Health Sciences
* Liberal & Fine Arts
* Science & Mathematics
* Mayfield College of Engineering

=== Educational programs ===
The Department of Animal Sciences oversees the Tarleton Equine-Assisted Therapy (TREAT) program<ref>{{Cite web|title=Treat|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/treat/index.html|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Tarleton State University|language=en-US}}</ref> that is designed to utilize horseback riding as a form of physical, emotional and recreational therapy. [[Hippotherapy]] (physical therapy on horseback using the horse as a therapist) has developed as a medical field recognized by most major countries.

The Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research (TIAER)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=TIAER|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/tiaer/index.html|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Tarleton State University|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> on the Tarleton campus plays a national leadership role in environmental issues related to water quality. This program provides the university, the dairy and beef industries, environmental control agencies and governmental policy groups with water pollution data for the {{convert|230000|acre|km2|adj=on}} Upper North [[Bosque River]] watershed.<ref name=":1" />

In fall 2002 the W.K. Gordon Center for Industrial History of Texas opened at a site located near [[Thurber, Texas|Thurber]], a [[ghost town]] located approximately {{convert|30|mi|km}} northwest of Stephenville and about one hour west of the DFW Metroplex.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/gordoncenter/about-us.html|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Tarleton State University|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804114407/https://www.tarleton.edu/gordoncenter/about-us.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Funded through a $1.2 million grant from the Texas Department of Transportation and a private gift from Mrs. W.K. Gordon Jr. The center is located on {{convert|4.1|acre|m2}} near the site of Texas' first coal mine and adjacent to New York Hill along [[Interstate 20]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Jennings|first1=Diane|last2=News|first2=Dallas Morning|date=2002-06-09|title=Museum to bring Texas ghost town alive|url=https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Museum-to-bring-Texas-ghost-town-alive-2102739.php|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Houston Chronicle}}</ref> The center is dedicated to the preservation, research and recording of Texas industrial history including coal mining, brick making and oil and gas exploration.<ref name=":2" />

Tarleton operates two radio stations. [[KXTR-LP]] 100.7 FM is a student-operated rock station,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=The Planet Radio|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/theplanet/index.html|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Tarleton State University|language=en-US}}</ref> while [[KTRL (FM)|KTRL]] 90.5 FM is a public radio station broadcasting news, classical music, and jazz.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=KTRL Radio|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/ktrl/index.html|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Tarleton State University|language=en-US}}</ref> Both are operated by students of Tarleton State University out of the radio station located in the Mathematics building on the TSU campus.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> Tarleton State University is one of three universities in the state of Texas to own and operate two radio stations; the other institutions being the [[University of Texas at Austin]] and [[Texas Tech University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gov.texas.gov/music/directory/radio/|title=List of all Texas Radio Stations|work=Texas Music Office|access-date=20 August 2011}}</ref>

==Campuses==
Tarleton students come from 47 U.S. states and 40 countries.<ref name=":0" /> Most university activities take place on Tarleton's {{convert|180|acre|km2|adj=on|abbr=}} main campus.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PGMS salutes Tarleton for grounds management|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/scripts/press/display.asp?id=5870|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Tarleton State University|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916185923/https://www.tarleton.edu/scripts/press/display.asp?id=5870|url-status=dead}}</ref> An {{convert|800|acre|km2|adj=on|abbr=}} operational university farm with classroom space is located near the main campus northwest of Stephenville with access from TX Highway 8 and [[U.S. Route 281|US Route 281]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 2017|title=Agricultural Center Master Plan|url=https://www.tarleton.edu/FINADMINWEB/masterplan/documents/TarletonStateUniversity_AgricultureCenterMasterPlan_Final_032317.pdf|website=tarleton.edu|access-date=2020-07-31|archive-date=2021-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916192942/https://www.tarleton.edu/FINADMINWEB/masterplan/documents/TarletonStateUniversity_AgricultureCenterMasterPlan_Final_032317.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The {{convert|1170|acre|km2|adj=on}} Hunewell Ranch is located in Erath County and provides additional educational facilities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tarleton WSES hosts BioBlitz at Hunewell Ranch|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/scripts/press/display.asp?id=6027|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Tarleton State University|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916192504/https://www.tarleton.edu/scripts/press/display.asp?id=6027|url-status=dead}}</ref> Tarleton also offers specialized programs at its Dora Lee Langdon Cultural and Educational Center in [[Granbury, Texas|Granbury]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dora Lee Langdon Cultural & Educational Center - Institutional Advancement|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/langdoncenter/index.html|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Tarleton State University|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126185313/https://www.tarleton.edu/langdoncenter/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and select programs and courses at [[McLennan Community College]] in Waco, [[Weatherford College]] in [[Weatherford, Texas|Weatherford]], [[Bryan, Texas|Bryan]] at the Texas A&M-RELLIS Campus, and in Fort Worth.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/about/index.html|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Tarleton State University|language=en-US}}</ref> Upper-level courses were offered at Tarleton-Central Texas in [[Killeen, Texas|Killeen]] until 2009 when [[Texas A&M University-Central Texas]] was formed as a separate institution.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tarleton State University: An Overview {{!}} Tarleton State University|url=http://catalog.tarleton.edu/undergrad/tarletonstateuniversityanoverview/|access-date=2020-07-31|website=catalog.tarleton.edu|archive-date=2020-07-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723030835/http://catalog.tarleton.edu/undergrad/tarletonstateuniversityanoverview/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Stephenville===
Most university activities take place on Tarleton's main campus in [[Stephenville, Texas|Stephenville]], the county seat of [[Erath County, Texas|Erath County]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Stephenville city, Texas|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/stephenvillecitytexas|access-date=2020-07-31|website=www.census.gov|language=en}}</ref>  {{Location map+ | Texas
|float   = right
|caption = Tarleton State University campuses
|width   = 300
|places =
  {{Location map~ | Texas
    | marksize = 9
    | label_size = 90
    | label = Stephenville
    | position = left
    | mark=Red pog.svg
    | lat_deg = 32.220278
    | lon_deg = -98.213611}}
  {{Location map~ | Texas
    | marksize = 9
    | label_size = 90
    | label = Fort Worth
    | position = right
    | mark=Red pog.svg
    | lat_deg = 32.75
    | lon_deg = -97.333333}}
}}

The main campus in Stephenville features a {{convert|72000|sqft|m2|adj=on|abbr=}} sports recreation center opened in fall 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tarleton State University {{!}} Recreation Center – Randall Scott Architects|url=http://www.rsarchitects.com/tarleton-rec/|access-date=2020-07-31|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Outdoor Pursuits - Campus Recreation|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/campusrec/outdoor-pursuits/index.html|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Tarleton State University|language=en-US}}</ref>

A  $13 million, {{convert|42000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} dining facility opened in fall 2008. The new building is an extension of the student center and has two floors, a convenience store, executive meeting rooms and a cafe with a wireless network.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Public invited to tour Tarleton's new dining hall|url=https://www.yourstephenvilletx.com/article/20081029/News/310299927|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Stephenville Empire-Tribune|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926070750/https://www.yourstephenvilletx.com/article/20081029/News/310299927|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2001, the university completed a $30.8 million science building complete with a 86-seat [[planetarium]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=About the Planetarium - Tarleton State University|url=https://www.tarleton.edu/planetarium/about.html|access-date=2020-07-31|website=www.tarleton.edu|language=en|archive-date=2020-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020035623/https://www.tarleton.edu/planetarium/about.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2014, the Science Building was named for Lamar Johnson a former professor of biological sciences and dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Science building to be named after former dean|url=https://jtacnews.com/5167/news/science-building-to-be-named-after-former-dean/|access-date=2020-07-30|website=the JTAC|archive-date=2021-09-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919111958/https://jtacnews.com/5167/news/science-building-to-be-named-after-former-dean/|url-status=dead}}</ref>  The old science building<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Old Science Building - Tarleton State University|url=https://www.tarleton.edu/library/crosstimbers/collections/tsucollection/TAN00047P.html|access-date=2020-07-31|website=www.tarleton.edu|language=en}}</ref> went through an extensive $13.5 million renovation and expansion upgrading laboratories and classrooms. This building is now named the Mathematics Building.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|date=June 2008|title=Tarleton State University 2020 Campus Master Plan|url=https://www.tarleton.edu/FINADMINWEB/masterplan/documents/TarletonStateUniversity2020MasterPlan.pdf|access-date=2020-07-31|archive-date=2021-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125173416/https://www.tarleton.edu/FINADMINWEB/masterplan/documents/TarletonStateUniversity2020MasterPlan.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> An observatory at Hunewell Ranch<ref>{{Cite web|title=Map to Observatory - Tarleton State University|url=https://www.tarleton.edu/observatory/map_observatory.html|access-date=2020-07-30|website=www.tarleton.edu|language=en|archive-date=2020-08-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814051830/https://www.tarleton.edu/observatory/Map_Observatory.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> houses a fully robotic {{convert|32|in|mm|adj=mid|-diameter}} research-grade [[telescope]].

The Dick Smith Library is a three-floor facility that houses materials including print books, periodicals, curriculum collection, audio-visual material, e-books, streaming media, and special collections.<ref name="Library">{{cite web|title=University Libraries - Tarleton State University|url=https://www.tarleton.edu/library/index.html|access-date=9 April 2018|website=www.tarleton.edu}}</ref>

The University opened the EECU Center in 2025. The center seats up to 8,000 for basketball games or 10,000 people for concerts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=salskog |date=2025-08-21 |title=Tarleton State Officially Opens EECU Center {{!}} Tarleton News |url=https://www.tarleton.edu/news/tarleton-state-officially-opens-eecu-center/ |access-date=2025-09-16 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Other notable buildings:<ref name=":5" />

* Administration Building
* [[Barry B. Thompson]] Student Center<ref>{{Cite web|title=Barry B. Thompson Student Center - Student Affairs|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/studentaffairs/tsc/index.html|access-date=2020-07-31|website=Tarleton State University|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-09-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927024641/https://www.tarleton.edu/studentaffairs/tsc/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Clyde H. Wells]] Fine Arts Center<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fine Arts Center - Fine Arts|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/finearts/center.html|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Tarleton State University|language=en-US}}</ref>
* College of Business Administration Building
* E.J. Howell Education Building
* Mayfield Engineering Building<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-21|title=Tarleton opens high-tech engineering building on Stephenville campus|url=https://fortworthbusiness.com/technology/tarleton-opens-high-tech-engineering-building-on-stephenville-campus/|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Fort Worth Business Press|language=en-US}}</ref>
* Joe W. Autry Agricultural Building
* Nursing Building
* O.A. Grant Humanities Building
* Tarleton Center
* Trogdon House<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trogdon House once again a vibrant campus venue|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/scripts/press/display.asp?id=3320|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Tarleton State University|language=en|archive-date=2021-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916185011/https://www.tarleton.edu/scripts/press/display.asp?id=3320|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* W.K. Gordon Center for the Industrial History of Texas<ref>{{Cite web|title=W.K. Gordon Center|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/gordoncenter/index.html|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Tarleton State University|language=en-US|archive-date=2017-07-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723212122/http://www.tarleton.edu/gordoncenter/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Fort Worth===
Tarleton–Fort Worth is a campus located in [[Tarrant County, Texas|Tarrant County]]. The university has maintained a presence in [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]] since assuming control of the C.C. Terrell Memorial School of Medical Technology in the 1970s. In 2019, the university opened the first dedicated academic building<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ribbon cutting officially opens Tarleton's planned Fort Worth campus|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/scripts/press/display.asp?id=6113|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Tarleton State University|language=en|archive-date=2021-11-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130181806/https://www.tarleton.edu/scripts/press/display.asp?id=6113|url-status=dead}}</ref> on an 80–acre campus is located adjacent to the [[Chisholm Trail Parkway]] in southwest [[Tarrant County, Texas|Tarrant County]]. The building, referred to as "Building I,"<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Campus|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/fortworth/move.html|access-date=2020-08-02|website=Tarleton State University|language=en-US}}</ref> is a {{convert|76000|sqft|m2|adj=on|abbr=}}, three story multi-use facility with classroom, office space, and a library.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Harral|first=Paul|date=2019-08-01|title=Tarleton State University opens Fort Worth campus|url=https://fortworthbusiness.com/real-estate/tarleton-state-university-opens-fort-worth-campus/|access-date=2020-08-02|website=Fort Worth Business Press|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Ribbon cutting opens Tarleton's Fort Worth campus {{!}} City of Fort Worth, Texas|url=https://fortworthtexas.gov/news/2019/08/Tarleton-Ribbon-Cutting/|access-date=2020-08-02|website=fortworthtexas.gov|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  The campus is projected to enroll over 9,000 students by 2030.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stokes|first1=Prescotte|date=28 December 2017|title=Coming to southwest Fort Worth: New campus, engineering school for Tarleton State in 2018|work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]|url=https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article191803564.html|access-date=15 October 2019}}</ref>

== Leadership ==
The current and 16th president is [[James L. Hurley]] who was appointed by the [[Texas A&M University System]] Board of Regents in August 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=tamus|date=2019-08-08|title=Texas A&M University System regents name James Hurley sole finalist for president of Tarleton State University|url=https://www.tamus.edu/texas-am-university-system-regents-name-james-hurley-sole-finalist-for-president-of-tarleton-state-university/|access-date=2020-07-30|website=The Texas A&M University System|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921102223/https://www.tamus.edu/texas-am-university-system-regents-name-james-hurley-sole-finalist-for-president-of-tarleton-state-university/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Diane Stearns is the Chief Academic Officer serving as [[Provost (education)|Provost]] and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Executive Team - Office of the President |url=https://www.tarleton.edu/president/#leadership |access-date=2020-07-30 |website=Tarleton State University |language=en-US}}</ref>

As a member of the Texas A&M University System, Tarleton is one of a network of 11 higher educational institutions administered by a [[Chancellor]] and a [[Governing boards of colleges and universities in the United States|Board of Regents]]. Regents are appointed by the [[Governor (United States)|Governor]]. The current Chancellor is [[Glenn Hegar|Glen Hegar]] and chair of the Board of Regents is Robert Albritton.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About|url=https://www.tamus.edu/system/about/|access-date=2020-08-01|website=SYSTEM OFFICES|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Elaine Mendoza|url=https://www.tamus.edu/regents/bios/mendoza/|access-date=2020-08-02|website=Office of The Board of Regents|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-08-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822064826/https://www.tamus.edu/regents/bios/mendoza/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Student life ==
{| class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"
|+ style="font-size:90%" |Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023<ref>{{cite web |title= College Scorecard: Tarleton State University|url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?228529-Tarleton-State-University|website=College Scorecard |publisher=[[United States Department of Education]] |access-date=June 30, 2025 }}</ref>
|-
! Race and ethnicity
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]]/[[Alaska Native]]
|align=right| {{bartable|1|%|2||background:yellow}}
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic whites|White]]
|align=right| {{bartable|64|%|2||background:cyan}}
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]
|align=right| {{bartable|23|%|2||background:green}}
|-
| [[African Americans|Black]]
|align=right| {{bartable|6|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]]
|align=right| {{bartable|3|%|2||background:violet}}
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]]
|align=right| {{bartable|1|%|2||background:orange}}
|-
| [[International student]]
|align=right| {{bartable|1|%|2||background:#008080}}
|-
| Unknown
|align=right| {{bartable|1|%|2||background:grey}} 
|-
! colspan="4" data-sort-type=number |[[Economic diversity]]
|-
| [[American lower class|Low-income]]{{efn|The percentage of students who received an income-based federal [[Pell grant]] intended for low-income students.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|38|%|2||background:red}}
|-
| [[Affluence in the United States|Affluent]]{{efn|The percentage of students who are a part of the [[American middle class]] at the bare minimum.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|62|%|2||background:black}}
|}
===Athletics===
{{Main|Tarleton State Texans}}
[[File:Tarleton State Graduation, Wisdom Gymnasium, December 2010.jpg|thumb|left|Tarleton students graduate at [[Wisdom Gym]] in December 2010]]

Tarleton State University athletics currently competes at the [[NCAA Division I]] level in the [[Western Athletic Conference]] (WAC).  They were admitted into the WAC on July 1, 2020, therefore ending their 26-year stint at the [[NCAA Division II|Division II]] level with the [[Lone Star Conference]] (LSC).<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://wacsports.com/general/2019-20/releases/20191112oz7aee |title=Tarleton State University to Join Western Athletic Conference in 2020-21 |publisher=Western Athletic Conference |date=November 12, 2019 |access-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-date=December 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202231059/https://wacsports.com/general/2019-20/releases/20191112oz7aee |url-status=dead }}</ref> Their admission into the LSC in 1995 marked their second period of membership, having previously participated from 1968 to 1975.  They were a founding member of the [[Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association]] (TIAA) in 1976 and remained in that league until 1990.  From 1991 to 1994 Tarleton played as an Independent.

The teams are known as the "Texans".  Athletes were known as the "Plowboys" before the college became a four-year institution in 1961.

When women's sports were introduced in 1968–69, those teams played under the "Texans" nickname, but due to the desire of that day's female athletes to play under a distinctive nickname, the women's nickname was changed the next school year. "Texanns", "Tex-Anns", and "TexAnns" were used interchangeably until 1972–73, when "TexAnns" was officially settled on. Following a campaign initially led by two players and a (female) student manager in the women's basketball program, Tarleton returned the "Texans" nickname to women's teams in 2019–20.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://tarletonsports.com/news/2019/1/26/cross-country-all-tarleton-athletic-teams-to-unite-as-texans-this-fall.aspx |title=All Tarleton athletic teams to unite as 'Texans' this fall |publisher=Tarleton State Athletics |date=January 26, 2019 |access-date=September 13, 2019}}</ref>

The basketball and volleyball teams play at [[Wisdom Gym]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tarleton.edu/virtualtour/building/vt_wisdomgym.html|publisher=Tarleton State University|date=20 May 2015|work=tarleton.edu|url-status=dead|title=Wisdom Gym - Tarleton State University|access-date=10 November 2017|archive-date=6 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906170724/http://www.tarleton.edu/virtualtour/building/vt_wisdomgym.html}}</ref> The football team plays at [[Memorial Stadium (Tarleton State)|Memorial Stadium]]. The baseball team plays at [[Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex]].  The softball team plays at the Tarleton Softball Complex.

Tarleton State University fields six men's varsity sports and eight women's varsity sports in the Western Athletic Conference:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tarletonsports.com/index.aspx |title=Tarleton State Athletics |publisher=Tarletonsports.com |date=2012-09-28 |access-date=2012-10-02}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Men's !! Women's
|-
| [[Tarleton State Texans baseball|Baseball]] || [[Tarleton State Texans women's basketball|Basketball]]
|-
| [[Tarleton State Texans basketball|Basketball]] || Cross Country
|-
| Cross Country || Golf
|-
| [[Tarleton State Texans football|Football]] || Soccer
|-
| Track & Field{{efn|group=a|name=TF|Tarleton fields teams in indoor and outdoor track for both sexes. The NCAA classifies indoor and outdoor track as separate sports, holding indoor championships in its winter season and outdoor championships in its spring season.}} || Softball
|-
|  || Tennis
|-
| || Track & Field{{efn|group=a|name=TF}}
|-
| || Volleyball
|}

{{notelist|group=a}}

===Music===
[[File:Tarleton State University August 2017 09 (Clyde H. Wells Fine Arts Center).jpg|thumb|Clyde H. Wells Fine Arts Center]]

The music program at Tarleton State University is a fully accredited member of the [[National Association of Schools of Music]]. It is housed in the [[Clyde H. Wells]] Fine Arts Center. This multi-purpose fine arts complex contains three theatres: a 243-seat recital hall, an 805-seat auditorium, and the workshop theatre. There is a 16-keyboard piano lab and computer lab. The instrument collection includes two nine-foot concert Steinway grand pianos, the Waggener Memorial Organ (a tracker two-manual pipe organ), a Richard Kingston harpsichord, and several Steinway grand pianos that are designated for piano majors to practice. The university currently offers three music degrees, which are [[Bachelor of Arts]] in music, [[Bachelor of Music]] in music education (with all-level certification) and the Bachelor of Music in performance. It currently offers one online graduate degree, [[Master of Music]] in music education. The program has over 150 full-time enrolled students with 80% being instrumental studies and 20% being vocal studies. The Tarleton music department hosts many festivals and clinics throughout the school year, including Brass Day, TMEA All-Region Band clinics, Jazz Festival, Invitational Band Festival, TMEA Area Choir clinics, and the Let All Men Sing!<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tarleton.edu/band/camps/index.html |title=Festivals and Clinics|publisher=tarleton.edu |access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tarleton.edu/music/vocal.html |title=Vocal Studies |publisher=tarleton.edu |access-date=9 April 2018 |archive-date=16 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916191639/https://www.tarleton.edu/music/vocal.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Music ensembles include The Sound and the Fury, The Texan Marching Band, Foul Play Basketball Band, Chamber Winds, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, two jazz bands, Brass Ensemble, Woodwind Chamber Ensemble, Trumpet Ensemble, Horn Choir, and Flute Choir.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tarleton.edu/music/index.html |title=Music - Tarleton State University |publisher=Tarleton.edu |access-date=2012-10-02 |archive-date=2012-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320071019/http://www.tarleton.edu/music/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Texan Corps of Cadets===
The [[Texan Corps of Cadets]] was founded in 1917 when John Tarleton Agriculture College joined the Texas A&M University system. The Corps of Cadets was initially known as "Johns Army".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tarleton.edu/library/crosstimbers/collections/tsucollection/TAN00013P.html|title=R.O.T.C. at Tarleton - Tarleton State University|website=www.tarleton.edu|access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref> The Corps of Cadets survived through the end of the 1950s. Until 2016, the school had only an Army ROTC program. In 2016 the Texan Corps of Cadets was brought back to the university.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hernandez|first=Rebecca|title=Corps of Cadets reestablishes status and history at Tarleton – Texan News Service {{!}} Tarleton State University|date=29 March 2019|url=http://texannews.net/corps-of-cadets-reestablishes-status-and-history-at-tarleton/|access-date=2020-08-02|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-10-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030160215/http://texannews.net/corps-of-cadets-reestablishes-status-and-history-at-tarleton/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Texan Corps of Cadets offers students an opportunity to obtain a minor in Leadership Studies. All cadets live together in a residence hall at Tarleton called Traditions. All cadets wear their uniforms to class every day and must abide by the regulations set forth in the "Chisel".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tarleton.edu/cadets/documents/handbook.pdf|title=The Chisel|website=tarleton.edu|access-date=31 July 2023}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
{{Excessive examples|section|date=September 2025}}

=== Alumni ===

[[File:NASA-MHughes-Fulford.JPG|thumb|[[Millie Hughes-Fulford]]]]
[[File:Chris Kyle January 2012.jpg|thumb|[[Chris Kyle]]]]
*[[Chris Adams (general)|Chris Adams]], retired US Air Force Major General
*[[Ryan Bingham]], singer/songwriter, [[Grammy Award]] and 2010 [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] winner
*[[Ben Barnes (Texas politician)|Ben Barnes]], former [[Lieutenant Governor of Texas]] (1969–1973) and [[Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives]] (1965–1969)
*[[Richard Bartel]], [[National Football League]] (NFL) [[quarterback]]
* [[Philip Montgomery]], former head football coach at the [[University of Tulsa]]
*[[DeWayne Burns]] (class of 1994), [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of Texas House of Representatives from [[Johnson County, Texas|Johnson]] and [[Bosque County, Texas|Bosque]] counties from 2015 to 2025
*[[Darius Cooper]], receiver for the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]
*[[James Dearth]], NFL [[tight end]]
*[[William E. Dyess]], survivor of Bataan Death March during World War II
*[[Chad Fox]], [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) player
*[[J. W. Fritz]], head of the police investigation of the murder of president John F. Kennedy
*[[Steve Fryar]], professional steer wrestler
*[[Bob Glasgow]], [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[Texas Senate|Texas State Senator]]
*[[Rick Hardcastle]], Republican former member of [[Texas House of Representatives]] from [[Wilbarger County, Texas|Wilbarger County]]
*[[Josh Hawley (basketball player)|Josh Hawley]] (born 1996), [[Israeli Basketball Premier League]] player <ref name="tar">{{Cite web |title=Josh Hawley - Men's Basketball |url=https://tarletonsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/josh-hawley/8664 |website=Tarleton State University Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Millie Hughes-Fulford]] (1945–2021), chemist and astronaut
*[[Jim Johnson (athletic director)|Jim Johnson]], college athletics director
*[[Rufus Johnson (American football)|Rufus Johnson]], NFL [[linebacker]] selected in sixth round (pick 183) of [[2013 NFL draft]]
*[[George Kennedy]], actor
*[[Chris Kyle]] (1974–2013), U.S. Navy Seal
*[[Mary Madison]], Iowa politician
*[[Stacey McGill]], program director, Trace Systems
*[[Sid Miller (politician)|Sid Miller]], [[Texas Agriculture Commissioner]] and former member of [[Texas House of Representatives]]
*[[Mike Moncrief]], member of Texas House of Representatives, judge, former mayor of [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]]
*[[Hal Mumme]], college football coach
*[[Conner Prince]], [[2024 Summer Olympics|2024 Summer Olympic]] silver medalist in [[skeet shooting]]
*[[Derrick Ross]], former NFL football player
*[[James Earl Rudder]], U.S. Army Major General and World War II veteran, former Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tarleton hosts ceremony honoring Rudder's part in historic invasion|url=http://www.tarleton.edu/scripts/press/display.asp?id=6094|access-date=2020-07-30|website=Tarleton State University|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":6" />
*[[Sam M. Russell]], U.S. Representative serving 1941–1947
*[[Norman Shumway]], father of heart transplantation
*[[E. J. Speed]], NFL [[linebacker]]
*[[Charles Steen]], geologist who made first big strike of 1950s uranium boom
*[[Charles W. Stenholm]], [[U.S. Representative]] from 1979 to 2005
*[[Clyde H. Wells]], Texas A&M University System Regent 1961–1985 and rancher<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Presidency of W.O Trogdon - Tarleton State University|url=https://www.tarleton.edu/library/crosstimbers/collections/tsucollection/TAN00029P.html|access-date=2020-07-30|website=www.tarleton.edu|language=en}}</ref>
*[[Koe Wetzel]], Texas country music singer/songwriter
*[[Randy Winkler]], NFL [[offensive tackle]]
*[[Marvin Zindler]], investigative reporter for [[KTRK-TV]]

=== Faculty ===

* [[Barry B. Thompson]], former Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Presidency of Barry B. Thompson - Tarleton State University|url=https://www.tarleton.edu/library/crosstimbers/collections/tsucollection/TAN00018P.html|access-date=2020-08-01|website=www.tarleton.edu|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|title=Past Chancellors|url=https://chancellor.tamus.edu/about/past-chancellors/|access-date=2020-08-01|website=John Sharp, Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{noteslist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://www.tarleton.edu/}}
* [https://www.tarletonsports.com/ Official Athletics Website]

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