By : Lynnette S.M

 Texas Southern University Images

  Texas Southern University is located in the heart of Houston minutes from downtown, the Museum District and the Texas Medical Center. We are home to nearly 10,000 students and more than 80 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. We are proud of our heritage and excited to serve an increasingly diverse student population. Location

  The University was established in 1927 as the Houston Colored Junior College. It developed through its private college phase as the four-year Houston Colored College. On March 3, 1947, the state declared this to be the first state university in Houston; it was renamed Texas State University for Negroes. In 1951, the name changed to Texas Southern University.  Former Wiley College Extension 1925–1927  Established March 7, 1927  MascotTiger  LocationHouston, Texas, USA  ColorsMaroon and Gray  Students9,646  CampusUrban, 150-acre 0.61 km2 Characteristics

  Texas Southern University is one of the largest and most comprehensive HBCU in the nation. TSU is one of only four independent public universities in Texas those not affiliated with any of Texas' six public university systems and the only HBCU in Texas recognized as one of America's Top Colleges by Forbes magazine. TSU is the leading producer of college degrees to African Americans and Hispanics in Texas and ranks fourth 4th in the nation in doctoral and professional degrees conferred to African Americans. The University is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.  On March 7, 1927 the Houston Independent School District school board resolved to establish junior colleges for each race, as the state was racially segregated in all public facilities. The resolution created Houston Junior College (later became the University of Houston) and Houston Colored Junior College. The Houston Colored Junior College first held classes at Jack Yates High School during the evenings. It later changed its name to Houston College for Negroes.  In February 1946, Heman Marion Sweatt, an African-American man, applied to the University of Texas School of Law. He was denied admission because of race, and subsequently filed suit in Sweatt v. Painter (1950). The state had no law school for African Americans. Instead of granting Sweatt a writ of mandamus to attend the University of Texas, the trial court granted a continuance for six months to allow the state time to create a law school for blacks.  As a result, the state founded Texas Southern University under Senate Bill 140 by the Fiftieth Texas Legislature on March 3, 1947 as a state university to be located in Houston. Originally named Texas State University for Negroes, the school was established to serve African Americans in Texas and offer them fields of study comparable to those available to white Texans. The state took over the Houston Independent School District (HISD)-run Houston College for Negroes as a basis for the new university. At the time, Houston College moved to the present site (adjacent to the University of Houston), which was donated by Hugh Roy Cullen. It had one permanent building and an existing faculty and students. The new university was charged with teaching "pharmacy, dentistry, arts and sciences, journalism education, literature, law, medicine and other professional courses." The legislature stipulated that "these courses shall be equivalent to those offered at other institutions of this type supported by the State of Texas."  Given the differences in facilities and intangibles, such as the distance of the new school from Austin, the University of Texas School of Law, and other law students, the United States Supreme Court ruled the new facility did not satisfy "separate but equal" provisions. It ruled that African Americans must also be admitted to the University of Texas Law School at Austin. Information

  The university boasts a diverse and vibrant student body that thrives on the nurturing atmosphere fostered by faculty and staff. Through small class settings, a supportive learning environment is encouraged by faculty members who are focused on the academic success of their students.  9,557  STUDENTS  39%  ADMITTED  7,463 FULL TIME  2,094 PART TIME  3,230 MEN FULL TIME  4,233 WOMEN FULL TIME.  Texas Southern University's educational quality places it among the worst-ranked colleges and universities on our Overall Best Colleges list. However, when compared to these other schools that deliver the same caliber of education, the net price to attend Texas Southern University is much, much higher than it should be. This has earned it a very poor #1,155 ranking on the Best Colleges for the Money list, and makes it an overpriced option. Students should carefully consider what their financial obligations will be should they wish to attend this school, and look closely at other educational options that offer similar benefits at a much better price. Good for …

  Facts:  President: John M. Rudley  Founded: 1927  Location: Houston, Texas  Enrollment: 9,700  Undergraduate Tuition and Fees for Texas Residents: $7,500 annually  Employees: 1,400 staff and faculty  Registered Student Organizations: 80+  Colleges & Schools: 10  Mascot: Tigers  Colors: Maroon and Gray. Facts

  Texas Southern University possesses an impressive array of more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs and concentrations, a diverse faculty, 80 plus student organizations, and an extensive alumni network comprised of educators, entrepreneurs, public servants, lawyers, pilots, artists, and more, many of whom are change agents on the local, national and international stage. Nestled upon a sprawling 150 acre campus, Texas Southern University is one of the nation’s largest historically black universities. Our academic curriculum is organized into eleven colleges and schools that continue to serve as cornerstones for developing the greatest potential in leaders from various socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Some of TSU’s well-known graduates include the late U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and U.S. Congressman George Mickey Leland. Texas Southern University is heralded as a pioneer and has distinguished itself by producing a significant number of African American students who have obtained post-secondary and advanced degrees. The university’s enrollment has grown from 2,303 students to more than 9,700 undergraduate and graduate students from across the world. Although initially established to educate African Americans, Texas Southern University has become one of the most diverse institutions in Texas. What it is well know for…

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