


Texas Southern University competes in NCAA Division I athletics as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). Its Tigers and Lady Tigers teams give students opportunities to follow intercollegiate competition; joining a varsity roster requires the relevant team's recruiting or tryout process.
Representative varsity sports include football, basketball, baseball, softball, track and field, soccer, and volleyball. The university also reports other athletic and spirit activities, including bowling and cheerleading, but participation arrangements differ from sport to sport. Students looking for casual exercise rather than varsity competition should check current recreation and intramural schedules; a listed varsity sport does not imply that an equivalent club or intramural league is offered.
Texas Southern University offers ways to participate in student government, cultural activities, performance, and other organized campus life. The Student Government Association and University Program Council are examples of groups involved in student representation and programming.
Reported organizations and activities also include a debate team, band, and Greek-letter organizations. Student media and performing arts provide other outlets, including a campus newspaper, radio station, theater activities, and choral groups. Recognition and activity can change from year to year; students seeking a particular club should check the current student-organization directory and meeting information rather than assume every historically listed group is recruiting.
Texas Southern University enrolls about 8,704 students across its programs. It is a historically Black university with a substantial Black student population, while enrolling students of other racial and ethnic backgrounds as well.
Reported enrollment includes 1,628 first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates and 448 transfer entrants. Among first-time students, 78% came from Texas and 20% from other U.S. states. Reported ethnicity counts include 5,877 Black or African American students and 548 Hispanic or Latino students. Those figures describe enrollment, not the experiences or views of individual students. The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 19 to 1; actual class sizes depend on the course and program.
Daily life at Texas Southern University combines an urban campus, residential options, and activities that students can fit around classes, work, and commuting. The experience may differ considerably between a student who lives on campus and one who travels across Houston for a few scheduled classes.
Orientation and academic advising can help new students navigate registration and degree requirements. Reported campus services include a health clinic, personal counseling, a veterans affairs office, and a women's center. Concerts, performances, athletics, and student programming offer opportunities to meet peers beyond the classroom. Students comparing campuses may find it useful to look at the actual hours and locations of the services they expect to use, especially if they will attend in the evenings.
Texas Southern University's main academic library is its Library Learning Center. It provides a place for studying and a route to the research materials students need for coursework.
Reported facilities include reservable study rooms and study areas with extended, including 24-hour, availability on designated days. Students should check current access hours before relying on overnight space. Library research support can also include help locating books, journal articles, and subject-specific databases; availability of a particular resource and remote-access procedure should be confirmed through the library. Students working on specialized or graduate projects should ask about research assistance and options for obtaining material outside the local collection.
Total enrollment
8704Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen
1522Member of Athletic Associations
NCAATotal staff
408 full time, 299 part timeVeterans affair office
YesVarsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).
Sport
Baseball
Basketball
Bowling
Cheerleading
Cross-country running
Football
Golf
Soccer
Softball
Swimming and diving
Tennis
Track and field
Volleyball
Data last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.