Online College Review: Texas State University

Texas State University (TXST) is a large public research university with main campus in San Marcos, Texas, founded in 1899 as Southwest Texas State Normal School. The institution is the seventh-largest university in Texas with record fall 2025 enrollment of 44,596 students, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), federally designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) with 40.7 percent Hispanic enrollment, classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R2 (Doctoral Universities – High Research Activity) institution, and actively working toward R1 status by 2027 through a $50 to $80 million doctoral education investment. TXST offers more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs across nine colleges, with a substantial and rapidly growing online catalog.

This review examines Texas State University Online specifically: the SACSCOC accreditation picture, what online programs are available (the catalog expanded substantially through a 2024 partnership with Risepoint), what they cost (with a notable feature where out-of-state students pay rates comparable to Texas residents for fully online programs), who the institution is built for, and how Texas State compares to other public university online programs and online-focused alternatives. Texas State is the first major public research university reviewed in this CT online review series, which provides a useful contrast to the private nonprofit institutions covered previously.

For the broader framework on planning an online degree as a working adult, see: The Complete Guide to Earning an Accredited Online Degree as an Adult Learner.

Institutional Overview

Founding and Institutional History

Texas State was founded in 1899 as Southwest Texas State Normal School, originally a teacher preparation institution serving the central Texas region. The institution went through several name changes (Southwest Texas State Teachers College in 1923, Southwest Texas State College in 1959, Southwest Texas State University in 1969, and finally Texas State University in 2003) reflecting its expansion from teacher education into a comprehensive research university. Notable alumni include former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson, who graduated in 1930 when the institution was Southwest Texas State Teachers College. The university is part of the Texas State University System, which also includes Sam Houston State University, Sul Ross State University, and Lamar University.

Campuses and Locations

The main campus is in San Marcos, Texas, on a 517-acre property along the San Marcos River, approximately 30 miles south of Austin and 50 miles north of San Antonio. TXST also operates a 101-acre Round Rock Campus in the greater north Austin metropolitan area, which serves working adults pursuing graduate degrees and bachelor’s completion programs through evening, weekend, and online formats. The university additionally operates a campus in Querétaro, Mexico. Online students access programs from anywhere through SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) participation, with the institution’s central Texas positioning providing strong regional employer networks across Austin, San Antonio, and the broader I-35 corridor.

Research and Academic Profile

Texas State is classified as Carnegie R2 (Doctoral Universities – High Research Activity), the second-highest research designation, and spent more than $160 million on research in fiscal year 2024. The institution has invested $50 to $80 million in doctoral education through the Run to R1 initiative, with the goal of achieving R1 (Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity) classification by 2027. Recent doctoral graduate counts (71 in the most recent year) meet the new Carnegie R1 thresholds. The State of Texas has designated TXST as an Emerging Research University (ERU). For online students, the R2 (and likely soon R1) classification provides a research-university brand that differentiates TXST from many online-focused alternatives that do not hold doctoral research classifications.

Enrollment Profile

TXST enrolled 44,596 students in fall 2025, including 39,376 undergraduates and approximately 5,200 graduate and post-baccalaureate students. The student body is diverse, with 40.7 percent Hispanic, 39.2 percent White, 9.24 percent Black or African American, 3.13 percent Two or More Races, and 2.73 percent Asian (per most recent IPEDS data). The HSI designation produces specific federal funding access through Title V grants and an institutional culture oriented toward serving the substantial Mexican-American population of central Texas. Online enrollment specifically has grown rapidly through the Risepoint partnership announced in 2024, which expanded the online catalog from a smaller historic offering to 19 new programs starting in fall 2024.

Is Texas State University Accredited?

Yes. Texas State University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), one of the seven U.S. Department of Education-recognized regional accrediting bodies. SACSCOC is the same accreditor that oversees Vanderbilt University, Duke University, the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Lipscomb University, Abilene Christian University, and most major institutions across the southern United States. SACSCOC accreditation carries full federal recognition for financial aid eligibility, credit transferability, employer recognition, and graduate school admissions.

Source: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Programmatic Accreditations

TXST holds an unusually strong set of programmatic accreditations, several of which are particularly relevant for online programs:

• AACSB International: The McCoy College of Business has been AACSB-accredited since 1997, and the Department of Accounting has held an additional AACSB accounting accreditation since 2013. Fewer than 200 universities worldwide hold AACSB accreditations in both business and accounting, placing TXST’s business school in elite global company. AACSB is the gold standard for business school accreditation, meaningfully more selective than ACBSP held by many private Christian universities. McCoy College ranked #3 for public business schools in Texas and #33 among all U.S. public universities by Poets & Quants For Undergrads 2026.
• CAHME (Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education): The Master of Healthcare Administration is CAHME-accredited. CAHME is the standard accreditation for graduate healthcare management education and is recognized by major healthcare employers.
• CAHIIM (Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education): Both the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management (BSHIM, reaffirmed through April 2027) and Master of Health Information Management (MHIM, affirmed through October 2028) hold CAHIIM accreditation. Health information management graduates pursuing the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) credential need CAHIIM-accredited programs to qualify for the AHIMA certification examination.
• ACEJMC (Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication): The Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication holds ACEJMC accreditation. Texas State is one of only three public universities in Texas accredited by ACEJMC, which is the standard accreditation for journalism and mass communication programs.
• CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education): The BSN, MSN, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs are CCNE-accredited, which is required for many advanced practice nursing pathways.

This combination of AACSB (with accounting), CAHME, CAHIIM, ACEJMC, and CCNE accreditations gives TXST a notably strong programmatic accreditation portfolio for a public university online operation. For students pursuing licensure-track careers in business, accounting, healthcare administration, health information management, journalism, or nursing, this accreditation depth produces meaningful value beyond the institutional reputation.

Texas State Online Programs

Texas State’s online catalog expanded substantially in 2024 through a partnership with Risepoint (formerly Academic Partnerships), an education technology company that supports universities in scaling online program operations. The June 2024 announcement added 19 fully online programs to the catalog, with new programs starting fall 2024. Programs use 8-week accelerated course formats with multiple start dates per year, designed for working adults. Out-of-state students enrolled in 100 percent online programs are charged rates comparable to Texas in-state tuition, which is a meaningful cost advantage relative to many public universities.

Online Bachelor’s Programs

TXST’s online bachelor’s catalog spans communication, business, public administration, health, and education:

• Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies (Persuasion, Advocacy, and Civic Engagement Concentration; Professional and Organizational Advancement Concentration): Two distinct concentrations within the communication studies major.
• Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication: ACEJMC-accredited journalism and mass communication program.
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology: Online psychology bachelor’s program for adult learners pursuing graduate study or careers requiring psychology background.
• Bachelor of General Studies (Integrated Studies major): Flexible degree completion program for students with substantial transfer credit, accepting up to 90 hours of prior coursework.
• Bachelor of Public Administration: Online public administration bachelor’s serving aspiring public sector and nonprofit professionals.
• Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management (BSHIM): CAHIIM-accredited health information management program preparing graduates for the RHIA examination through AHIMA.
• Bachelor of Science in Public Health: Online public health bachelor’s program.
• Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care: Online respiratory care bachelor’s for working credentialed respiratory therapists.
• Bachelor of Science in Education (multiple tracks): Including Applied Bilingual/Biliteracy Education with Teacher Certification in Early Childhood Through Grade Six Core Subjects with Bilingual-Spanish (Instructional Aide Pathway), and Applied Elementary Education with similar certification structure but ESL focus. These programs are designed specifically for current Texas Instructional Aides pursuing teacher certification.

Online Master’s Programs

The online graduate catalog includes professional master’s programs across healthcare, business, criminal justice, engineering, and public health:

• Master of Healthcare Administration (Executive Track): CAHME-accredited program designed for working healthcare professionals pursuing senior administrative roles.
• Master of Health Information Management (MHIM): CAHIIM-accredited graduate program in health information management.
• Master of Long-term Care Administration: Specialized graduate program for senior living and long-term care administrators.
• Master of Science in Construction Management: Online graduate program for construction industry professionals.
• Master of Science in Criminal Justice (Executive Concentration): Online graduate program for working criminal justice professionals pursuing senior administrative or research roles.
• Master of Science in Engineering Management: Two concentrations – Industrial Management and Manufacturing – for working engineers pursuing leadership credentials.
• Master of Science in Public Health Education and Promotion: Available with general track or Health Equity concentration.
• Master of Science in Respiratory Care (Clinical Specialist Concentration): Advanced graduate respiratory care program.
• Master of Science in Postsecondary Education: For aspiring higher education administrators, faculty, and student services professionals.

McCoy College of Business Online Programs

The AACSB-accredited McCoy College of Business offers several online graduate options, including the Flex MBA and Cohort MBA, plus specialized master’s programs in accounting and information technology, data analytics and information systems, marketing research and analysis, and quantitative finance and economics. AACSB business school accreditation is meaningfully more selective than ACBSP, and the additional AACSB accounting accreditation places TXST in elite global company. For students prioritizing AACSB-accredited online business credentials at public university tuition, McCoy College is genuinely strong.

Cost of Attending Texas State Online

Online Undergraduate Tuition

Texas State’s online undergraduate per-credit tuition is $307 for Texas residents and $717 for out-of-state students taking standard residential rates. However, for fully online programs (100 percent distance delivery), the institution charges out-of-state students rates comparable to Texas in-state tuition, which significantly reduces total cost for non-Texas residents pursuing online degrees. An additional Electronic Course Fee of $50 per credit hour applies to courses delivered via internet or hybrid instructional methods, covering online course development and maintenance.

For a 120-credit bachelor’s degree at $307 per credit plus $50 electronic course fee per credit ($357 total per credit for online students), total tuition would be approximately $42,840. For a degree completion student transferring 60 credits, remaining tuition would be approximately $21,420. These rates compete favorably with private nonprofit alternatives: SNHU at $330 per credit produces approximately $39,600 for a 120-credit bachelor’s; Liberty’s online undergraduate runs $390-$455 per credit; OLLU’s online undergraduate runs approximately $997 per credit.

Online Graduate Tuition

Online graduate per-credit tuition is $357 for Texas residents and $767 to $777 for out-of-state students at residential rates. For fully online programs, out-of-state students pay rates comparable to in-state. A McCoy Graduate Program Fee of $150 per credit applies to graduate students admitted to McCoy College of Business programs, which adds to the total cost for MBA and specialized business master’s students.

For a 36-credit master’s program at $357 per credit, total tuition runs approximately $12,852 for Texas residents. For an out-of-state student paying the in-state-comparable online rate, the total would be similar. This is meaningfully lower than private nonprofit alternatives: Sacred Heart’s MSN runs $25,020 to $40,110 total; Lipscomb’s online MBA runs $50,220 total; Liberty’s online MBA runs $24,000 to $32,000 total. For students prioritizing public university online pricing combined with regional accreditation and substantial programmatic accreditation, Texas State’s value proposition is genuinely strong.

Residential Tuition

For students considering Texas State’s residential undergraduate experience rather than online programs, full-time residential undergraduate tuition is approximately $11,450 for Texas residents and $22,653 for out-of-state students. Total cost of attendance including room and board runs approximately $29,130 for in-state residents and $40,610 for out-of-state students. Average financial aid is approximately $9,539, with 60 percent of enrolled students receiving grants or scholarships. The average net price after aid is approximately $19,591 for in-state and $31,071 for out-of-state students. The residential experience differs meaningfully from online enrollment and is outside the scope of this online review.

Financial Aid

TXST online students are eligible for federal financial aid through the standard FAFSA process, including Pell Grants and federal student loans. Texas residents may qualify for state-specific aid programs including the Texas Public Educational Grant. The institution participates in VA benefits including the Hazlewood Act for Texas veterans. The HSI designation produces access to specific federal Title V scholarship programs for eligible students.

For complete guidance on filing the FAFSA as an online student: FAFSA for Online Students: What to Know Before You Apply.

Outcomes Data

Texas State’s institution-wide outcomes reflect its mission as a large public research university serving a diverse student population including substantial percentages of first-generation, working-class, and Hispanic students.

Metric	Texas State	Context
Total enrollment (Fall 2025)	44,596	Seventh-largest in Texas, large public research university
Hispanic enrollment	40.7%	Federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution
Carnegie classification	R2 (working toward R1 by 2027)	Top-tier doctoral research designation
Research expenditures FY2024	$160M+	$183M most recent year
Acceptance rate	68%	Moderately selective
Freshman retention rate	78%	Above national 4-yr institution avg ~68%
4-year graduation rate	33%	Below selective private avg, typical for large public HSI
6-year graduation rate	56%	Below national avg of ~60%
Median earnings 6 years after enrollment	$46,716	Reflects regional Texas labor market

The 33 percent four-year graduation rate is typical for large public universities serving HSI student populations, where students more frequently work substantial hours during enrollment, take longer to complete degrees, and pursue stop-out-and-return enrollment patterns. The 56 percent six-year graduation rate is more representative of student outcomes than the four-year figure. The $46,716 median earnings reflects the central Texas labor market and the diverse program mix at TXST. Students prioritizing program-specific outcomes data should request major-specific completion and earnings figures from TXST admissions before enrollment.

Online program enrollment growth at TXST aligns with broader trends in graduate online education. CT’s data analysis of online enrollment patterns shows that graduate students are 2.3 times more likely to study exclusively online than undergraduates, and three out of four graduate students are adults aged 25-64 with substantial work and family obligations. Texas State’s rapid online expansion through the 2024 Risepoint partnership reflects the institution’s response to this demographic reality.

For program-level outcomes data on any institution: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Who Is Texas State University Online Built For?

Texas State Online serves specific student populations particularly well. The combination of public university tuition, AACSB business accreditation, in-state-comparable rates for out-of-state online students, R2 research classification, HSI mission, and central Texas regional positioning produces a meaningful student-fit profile.

Strong Fit

Texas State Online is well-suited for several specific student profiles:

• Working professionals pursuing AACSB-accredited online business credentials at public university tuition. The McCoy College of Business AACSB accreditation (and accounting AACSB accreditation, held by fewer than 200 schools globally) is genuinely distinctive at TXST’s tuition level. For students whose target employers or graduate schools value AACSB specifically, TXST’s combination of accreditation strength and public university pricing is hard to beat.
• Out-of-state students seeking public university online programs at in-state-comparable tuition rates. TXST’s 100% online out-of-state pricing structure is meaningfully lower than residential out-of-state rates and competitive with online-only universities.
• Healthcare administration and health information management professionals pursuing CAHME and CAHIIM-accredited credentials. These specific accreditations are required for several professional certification pathways and are strongly preferred by major healthcare employers.
• Texas region working professionals who specifically benefit from TXST’s central Texas employer networks, particularly in Austin, San Antonio, and the I-35 corridor. The university’s regional brand recognition and alumni network produce meaningful value for graduates targeting local careers.
• Hispanic students who specifically value the institutional commitment to HSI mission and Spanish-language program offerings (including the Bilingual/Biliteracy Education BS for aspiring bilingual teachers). TXST’s 40.7 percent Hispanic enrollment is among the highest at major Texas public universities.
• Working educators pursuing the Bilingual-Spanish or ESL teacher certification through the BS in Education programs. The Instructional Aide Pathway is specifically designed for current Texas Instructional Aides advancing into teaching credentials.
• Aspiring journalism and mass communication professionals seeking ACEJMC-accredited online bachelor’s credentials. TXST is one of only three public universities in Texas with ACEJMC accreditation.
• Adult learners with substantial transfer credit. The 90-credit transfer policy combined with 8-week accelerated courses can produce relatively rapid degree completion for students bringing prior credits.

Less Strong Fit

Texas State Online is less well-suited for several other student profiles where alternatives produce better outcomes:

• Students prioritizing the broadest possible online program catalog. While TXST’s online catalog has expanded substantially through the 2024 Risepoint partnership, dedicated online universities offer wider program selection: SNHU has 200+ programs, Liberty has 600+ programs across modalities, and Penn State World Campus has 175+ programs.
• Students seeking specific specialized programs not in TXST’s catalog. The online catalog focuses on specific professional fields (business, healthcare administration, communication, criminal justice, engineering management, education, public health). Students seeking online programs in social work, counseling, fine arts, or other fields where TXST does not offer online programs should look elsewhere.
• Students seeking the longest-established online operating history. TXST’s major online expansion dates to 2024, which is more recent than SNHU (1990s), Stevenson (2008), Sacred Heart (2006), or Penn State World Campus (1998). Online program operations are still maturing.
• Students seeking faith-integrated curriculum. TXST is a secular public university; students who specifically want Christian, Catholic, or other faith-integrated education should consider Liberty, Regent, Biola, Sacred Heart, OLLU, Harding, Lipscomb, or ACU.

For students choosing faith-integrated alternatives, Liberty University’s broader programmatic accreditation portfolio (including ABET engineering, CACREP counseling, and other credentials TXST does not hold) can be relevant: Liberty University Online College Review.

• Students prioritizing the most flexible self-paced model. TXST uses 8-week accelerated courses with set start dates rather than the competency-based model at WGU or the rolling start dates at SNHU. Students who specifically want self-paced flexibility may find these alternatives more attractive.
• Students seeking the strongest possible institution-wide brand recognition for graduate school admissions or national consulting careers. Texas State carries strong regional Texas brand recognition and growing research credentials, but does not match the brand strength of UT Austin, Texas A&M, or major out-of-state research universities.

How Texas State Compares to Other Online Options

For prospective students considering Texas State Online, several other institutions cover overlapping space and deserve direct comparison.

Other Texas Public University Online Programs

Texas residents pursuing public university online programs have several strong alternatives:

University of Texas Online (UT System): UT Austin, UT San Antonio, UT Dallas, UT Arlington, and other UT system institutions offer various online programs. UT Austin’s online programs particularly carry strong national brand recognition. Cost varies by institution; UT Arlington’s online programs are particularly cost-competitive.

Texas A&M System: Texas A&M, Texas A&M-Commerce, Texas A&M-Kingsville, and other A&M system institutions offer online programs. Texas A&M’s national brand recognition is meaningfully stronger than TXST’s, though TXST’s specific programmatic accreditations (AACSB with accounting, ACEJMC) are competitive.

University of North Texas (UNT): Major Texas public university with substantial online operations. UNT and TXST overlap meaningfully in target student population and academic profile.

Sam Houston State University and Lamar University: Other Texas State University System institutions, with related online program offerings and similar HSI orientation.

National Online University Alternatives

SNHU: $330 per credit undergraduate, $627 per credit graduate average. NECHE regional accreditation. SNHU is comparable to TXST on per-credit cost but does not match TXST’s AACSB business accreditation, R2 research classification, or central Texas employer network. Southern New Hampshire University Online College Review.

WGU: Flat-rate competency-based model at approximately $4,270 per six-month term. NWCCU regional accreditation. WGU’s flat-rate model produces lower total cost than TXST for self-directed learners completing programs quickly, but does not provide the research university brand or AACSB business credentials. Western Governors University Online College Review.

Penn State World Campus, ASU Online, and Arizona Online: Major public research university online operations with strong national brand recognition, AACSB business accreditation, and broader program catalogs. These institutions are meaningfully more expensive per credit than Texas State for out-of-state online students, but offer larger online program portfolios and stronger brand recognition outside their respective home states.

Decision Framework for Specific Programs

If Considering the Online MBA or Business Programs

McCoy College’s AACSB accreditation (with the additional accounting AACSB) is genuinely distinctive at public university online tuition. Direct online competitors with AACSB accreditation include ASU W.P. Carey, Indiana Kelley Direct, University of Illinois iMBA, University of Florida MBA, and many state university online MBAs. Texas State’s value proposition is most clear for Texas residents (lowest in-state tuition with elite accreditation) and out-of-state students benefiting from the in-state-comparable online rate. Sacred Heart University’s AACSB-accredited online MBA at Catholic-tradition framing is a different value proposition; TXST’s focus is research-university public-tuition AACSB depth.

If Considering Healthcare Administration (CAHME)

TXST’s CAHME-accredited Master of Healthcare Administration is among relatively few CAHME-accredited online MHA programs. Direct competitors include CAHME-accredited online MHA programs at the University of Southern California, George Washington University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Cincinnati, and a small number of additional institutions. CAHME accreditation is genuinely meaningful for major healthcare employer hiring filters and senior administrative role qualification.

If Considering Health Information Management (CAHIIM)

TXST’s CAHIIM-accredited BSHIM (bachelor’s) and MHIM (master’s) programs prepare graduates for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) examination through AHIMA. Direct online CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs include those at the College of St. Scholastica, Western Governors University, and a smaller set of additional institutions. Working Health Information Technicians pursuing the RHIA credential should consider TXST’s options against these alternatives.

If Considering Bilingual or ESL Teacher Certification

TXST’s BS in Education programs with Bilingual-Spanish and ESL teacher certification tracks are designed specifically for current Texas Instructional Aides pursuing teaching credentials. The Instructional Aide Pathway is unusual at the online undergraduate level and serves a specific population. Out-of-state students should look at programs aligned with their state’s specific licensure requirements rather than at TXST’s Texas-specific teacher certification programs.

If Considering Mass Communication (ACEJMC)

ACEJMC accreditation is meaningful for journalism and mass communication careers, particularly for graduates pursuing employer hiring filters that value the credential. Direct online ACEJMC-accredited mass communication bachelor’s programs are limited; TXST’s program is one of relatively few online options at the bachelor’s level holding this credential.

Bottom Line: Should You Enroll at Texas State Online?

Texas State University Online occupies a distinctive position in the online higher education market: a SACSCOC-accredited large public research university (R2 working toward R1 by 2027) with an unusually strong programmatic accreditation portfolio (AACSB business + accounting, CAHME, CAHIIM, ACEJMC, CCNE), public university tuition, in-state-comparable rates for out-of-state students enrolled in fully online programs, federal Hispanic-Serving Institution designation, and central Texas regional positioning serving the Austin-San Antonio I-35 corridor employer market. The 2024 Risepoint partnership produced a substantial online catalog expansion, and online program operations continue to grow.

Texas State is a strong choice for working professionals pursuing AACSB-accredited business credentials at public university tuition, healthcare professionals pursuing CAHME or CAHIIM-accredited graduate programs, journalism professionals seeking ACEJMC accreditation, central Texas working professionals benefiting from regional employer networks, Hispanic students valuing HSI mission alignment, current Texas Instructional Aides pursuing bilingual or ESL teaching credentials, and adult learners with substantial transfer credit benefiting from the 90-credit transfer policy.

Texas State is a less strong choice for students prioritizing the broadest possible online catalog (SNHU, Liberty, Penn State World Campus offer wider selection), the longest-established online operating history (TXST’s major online expansion dates to 2024), specialized programs in fields TXST does not offer online (social work, counseling, fine arts), the strongest national brand recognition for graduate school admissions, faith-integrated curriculum, or maximum self-paced flexibility (WGU’s competency-based model serves this preference better).

The single most important practical step for any prospective Texas State Online student: identify whether your target program aligns with TXST’s specific programmatic accreditations (AACSB business, CAHME healthcare administration, CAHIIM health information management, ACEJMC mass communication, CCNE nursing) or is a more general program available at many institutions. For students whose target program is one of TXST’s accreditation strengths combined with the in-state-comparable online tuition advantage, the institution’s value proposition is meaningful; for students whose target program is general business, IT, or other fields available at many institutions, the cost comparison against SNHU, WGU, and similar alternatives is the more important decision factor.

For the broader framework on planning an online degree as a working adult, see: The Complete Guide to Earning an Accredited Online Degree as an Adult Learner.

For data on why graduate education has gone online faster than undergraduate education, including the 2.3x gap between graduate and undergraduate online enrollment, see: The Online Advantage at the Graduate Level.

For the most affordable online colleges available in 2026, see: 12 Most Affordable Online Colleges in 2026.