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Overview

Founded in 1899 as a private, liberal arts college known then as John Tarleton College, the institution became a member of The Texas A&M University System in 1917, a four-year degree-granting institution in 1959 and gained status as a university in 1973. Tarleton State University is now one of the state's fastest growing institutions with an enrollment of 9,633 for fall 2008.

Located one hour from Fort Worth in Stephenville, Texas, Tarleton serves as the educational and cultural flagship of the Cross Timbers Region. With a population of 17,000, Stephenville is known as one of the country's most desirable places to live and is included in Norman Crampton's The 100 Best Small Towns in America published by Prentice Hall.

Upgraded campus facilities and affordable tuition combined with Stephenville's economical cost of living, make Tarleton one of the best university values in Texas. A new 70,000-square-foot sports recreation center, complete with weight rooms, track and gym, opened in fall 2007. The two-story building holds four racquetball courts, a weight room, cardio equipment as well as multi-purpose rooms, classroom and office space. The new facility is also home to a climbing wall and an "outdoor pursuit" area, allowing students the opportunity to sign up for such outdoor items as kayyaks, tents, and camping equipment.

A new $13 million, 42,000-square-foot dining facility opened in Fall 2008. For student convenience, the new building is an extension of the student center and will have two floors, a convenience store, executive meeting rooms and a cafe with a wireless network.

Other recent additions include a new $30.8 million science building complete with a 64-seat planetarium, and a new observatory at Tarleton's Hunewell Ranch, which houses a fully robotic, 32-inch diameter, research-grade telescope. The old science building went through an extensive $13.5 million renovation and expansion upgrading laboratories and classrooms. Tarleton's recent progress also includes a remarkable expansion and renovation of the Dick Smith Library, and comfortable new housing facilities.

Students come from around the world–26 countries and 49 states in the United States–to attend Tarleton. Students have the opportunity to choose from 64 undergraduate, 21 graduate, two associate degree programs and one doctoral program.

The largest non-land grant agriculture university in the United States, Tarleton is a leader in teacher education. It has one of the largest and oldest public school improvement partnerships in the United States, benefiting more than 50 area school districts. The university also is a national leader in educating agricultural education teachers.

Data Mining and data warehousing research at Tarleton is improving crop insurance for farmers. At the Center for Agribusiness Excellence (CAE), researchers seek to improve the integrity of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency’s delivery of services to farmers. Data mining research has identified patterns, and schemes for cheating the system that are then reported to the Compliance Branch of the agency. In addition, systematic mistakes causing farmers’ claims to be underpaid are reported for corrective action. To date, more than $300 million in cost savings has been attributed to CAE research.

Bachelor's degrees in nursing, environmental engineering, engineering physics, international agriculture, interdisciplinary business, communications, as well as a master's degree in environmental science and a doctoral degree in educational administration have been added to the curriculum.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recently approved an Associate of Applied Science degree and Advanced Technician Certificates, in both Medical Laboratory Technology and Histotechnology for Tarleton (April 2004).

Tarleton also offers an innovative horticulture/landscaping program in golf course management.

A doctoral degree in educational administration and online master’s degrees programs are offered.

Tarleton was recognized for its Tarleton Model for Accelerated Teacher Education (TMATE), which received special notice from the Association of Teacher Education for program excellence. Through the TMATE program, Tarleton is the provider of alternate teacher certification for Fort Worth ISD.

The Computer Information Systems Department was selected by the International Data Processing Management Association as the outstanding four-year program in North America in 1989, 1996 and 2003 making Tarleton the first university to be a three-time award recipient.

Tarleton's Laboratory for Wellness and Motor Behavior houses a unique training machine called "The Psycle™" for individuals with quadriplegia, paraplegia, hemiplegia, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, or other mobility impairments that require special training. Research showing the importance of moving paralyzed body parts is ongoing.

The Department of Animal Sciences oversees the Tarleton Equine-Assisted Therapy (TREAT) program 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 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 230,000-acre Upper North Bosque River watershed.

In fall 2002 the W.K. Gordon Center for Industrial History of Texas opened at a site located near Thurber, approximately 30 miles northwest of Stephenville. Funded through a $1.2 million grant from the Texas Department of Transportation and a private gift from Mrs. W.K. Gordon Jr. Center is located on 4.1 acres near the site of Texas' first coal mine and adjacent to New York Hill. The Center is dedicated to the preservation, research and recording of Texas industrial history including coal mining, brick making and oil and gas exploration.

Most university activities take place on Tarleton's centrally located, 150-acre main campus. A 700-acre university farm and the 1,170-acre Hunewell Ranch provide additional educational facilities. Tarleton also offers specialized programs at its Dora Lee Langdon Cultural and Educational Center in Granbury and select programs and courses at McLennan Community College in Waco, Weatherford Community College in Weatherford, and in Fort Worth. Upper-level courses are offered at Tarleton-Central Texas in Killeen. 

Quick Facts

  • 2008 Fall Enrollment: 9,633
  • Student/Faculty Ratio: 18 to 1
  • Undergraduate Degree Programs: 68
  • Graduate Degree Programs: 22
  • Doctorate Degree Programs: 1
  • Associate Degree Programs: 2
  • Combined Endowment Funds FY 2008: $38.5 million
  • 2008-2009 Operating Budget: $118.6 million
  • Erath County Economic Impact: $170 million
  • State of Texas Economic Impact: $311 million
  • Founded in 1899
  • Ranks among the most affordable public four-year universities in Texas
  • Offers one of only four hydrology programs in the United States, and one of only two engineering physics programs in Texas
  • Psycle™ programs creates health-related fitness for individuals with spinal cord injuries and other neurological impairment
  • National leader in certification of agricultural science teachers
  • $30.8 million science building houses the first planetarium in The Texas A&M University System with a research grade observatory housing a 32-inch telescope connecting Tarleton to an international network of observatories around the world
  • Tarleton's Equine Assisted Therapy (TREAT) program utilizes horseback riding as a form of physical, emotional and recreational therapy