Welcome Freshmen!

An entering freshman applicant is a graduate of an accredited high school who has not previously enrolled in a college or university.

If you plan to live on campus or seek financial aid, you should submit your housing and/or financial aid application as soon as possible. You do not need to wait until you have submitted your admission application.

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission are required to submit the following documents

1. Apply TSTC
Texas State Technical College has an open-door admissions policy that encourages everyone to pursue their dream of a quality, affordable education.  Click on a link below to complete an Application for Admissions Online now.

You may also complete the Application for Admission (PDF) form, print it and return by mail, to the Admissions & Records Office at: 1902 North Loop 499, Harlingen, TX 78550. 

Once the application has been submitted, promptly report any changes to the information in it (for example, name, address, starting term, major, etc.)

2. High School Transcript and/or Official College Transcripts or GED or Exceptional Admission
High School Transcript showing the units completed, grades earned, date of graduation and rank in class. 
College Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Transcripts must be sent directly from the institution(s) attended. Students who are currently enrolled at another institution should request a transcript to be sent with the coursework completed to date, followed by a final transcript to be sent upon completion of the current semester. Only coursework or degrees earned at an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association will be recognized.
GED Successful completion of the General Education Development test (GED) as certified by a state education agency.  
Students not admissible as regular students may be admitted as exceptional admission students under the following conditions providing they can present sufficient evidence indicating their capability to do college level work:

  • Individual Approval A – Students age 18 or older, or age 17 and attending a course of instruction to prepare for the high school equivalency examination, who can present sufficient evidence indicating their capability to do college level work.

3. Texas Success Initiative (TSI) approved test scores
or proof of exemption for students who plan to enroll in college-level coursework. Test scores from approved TSI exams or TSI exemption will not be used as a basis for admission, but will be used to determine placement.

TSI Exemptions

Students who do not meet one of the following exemptions must take THEA (or an approved alternate exam: (ACCUPLACER, COMPASS & ASSET) prior to enrolling.
           
You may be exempt from taking THEA if you have:

  • An associate’s degree or higher from an accredited Texas institution.
  • A minimum ACT composite of 23, English score of 19 and Math score of 19 from the same test date (national exam, not older than 5 years), or
  • A minimum CEEB-SAT total of 1070, Verbal score of 500 and Math score of 500 from the same test date (national exam, not older than 5 years), or
  • TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) Reading ELA score of 2200, with writing score of 3 and Math score of 2200. (11th grade exit level exam)
  • Military Exemption applies to students serving or who have served in the U.S. armed forces, Texas National Guard or as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces and

***has been serving on active duty at least 3 years before enrolling or
*** was honorably discharged, retired or released from active duty on or after Aug. 1, 1990

Send High School/College transcripts to:
Texas State Technical College
Admissions and Records Office
1902 N. Loop 499
Harlingen, Texas 78550

Please note: All documents submitted by applicants who do not register for the term indicated on the admission application will be retained for one year in the Admissions & Records Office. At the end of one year, all records are discarded unless the applicant has notified the Admissions & Records Office of continued interest in attending TSTC. All documents become the property of TSTC and are not returned to the students.

 
Business/Office Technology students in lab.