Important Application Information

All admission materials must be submitted to The Graduate College through the appropriate channel and in the requested format. Materials submitted become the property of the university and cannot be released, except in accordance with the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act or the Texas Public Information Act.


Online Application

Applications are for specific programs and specific semesters. Applicants to any graduate program must submit an online application. Once in the system, you must select the preferred term of enrollment to view the available programs admitting during this term.

  Not all programs admit for every term. Please review the admission terms, deadlines, and requirements for your program of study.

Information about deadlines can be found on our policy page.


Application Fees

You can submit the required, nonrefundable application fee with credit/debit card information during the online application process. Applications will not be reviewed until all of the applicable fees are paid.

Please note that a $30 returned item fee will be charged if the payment is returned for Insufficient Funds, Account Closed, or a Stop Pay has been put on the payment.

For immediate questions regarding the payment process, please see our Submitting Graduate Application Fee Payments Overview.

  If you wish to change your application or submit applications for multiple programs, you must pay the fee(s) associated with the new application(s).

  • The fee is $20. The fee is $60 for applications with international credentials, e.g. you received credit from an international institution, you need to provide English proficiency exam scores, and/or you require immigration documents.

  • The fee is $55. The fee is $90 for applications with international credentials, e.g. you received credit from an international institution, you need to provide English proficiency exam scores, and/or you require immigration documents.

  • The international credential fee* is required if the application considered for admission is based on international credentials, e.g. you received credit from an international institution, you need to provide English proficiency exam scores, and/or you require immigration documents.

    • $60 nonrefundable application fee for certificate, certification, non-degree-seeking, and visiting applications with international credentials
    • $90 nonrefundable application fee for degree applications with international credentials

    *The international credential fee is not in addition to the application fee. The above fees are the total cost of the application.

    • The Dietetic Internship Program fee is $70. The fee is $110 for applications with international credentials.
    • The Physical Therapy program fee is $80. The fee is $115 for applications with international credentials.
    • The Texas Education Agency technology fee (if offered admission) is $35. This applies to the professional certification programs.
  • Graduate application fee waivers are based on evidence of financial need and are intended to assist in the admission of graduate-bound students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. To qualify for a fee waiver, you must:

    • have an application on file with The Graduate College
      and
    • show proof of financial need based on an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $5,000 or less as found in a submitted Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) currently on file with Texas State University's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
      OR
    • provide The Graduate College with a copy of the official award letter stating your status as a McNair/Fulbright Scholar. (This award letter must not be dated more than a year old.)

    You can initiate the request for a graduate application fee waiver by contacting The Graduate College. All fee waiver requests are subject to approval by The Graduate College and may be used to apply to a maximum of two fee waivers per year.


Transcripts

Application Requirements
You must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university by the time you enroll in your graduate courses. Some programs may require other accreditations as well. You must provide one official up-to-date transcript from each institution from which credit was received. You can submit copies of your official transcripts in order to meet your application requirements; however, if you are admitted, you will need to contact your institution(s) to have them send your official transcripts to The Graduate College. Your official transcripts must be on file in order for you to register.

TIP: If you are applying to multiple schools, we recommend uploading copies of your up-to-date official transcripts; however, if you are applying to Texas State only, we encourage you to bypass this step and have your official transcripts sent directly to The Graduate College.

  Transcripts submitted without the online application will not be retained.

  • You must upload copies of your official transcripts (not print-outs, grade reports, advising transcripts or transcripts stamped "unofficial"). You can accomplish this by ordering or requesting your official transcripts from your university registrar, opening the documents, and scanning them into one PDF file. Please follow the instructions below when uploading your documents:

    • redact your social security number every time it appears, but do not make additional alterations
    • include front pages and back pages as well as the transcript legend
    • combine multiple pages and/or multiple transcripts into one PDF
    • arrange all pages in the correct order
    • remove any encryption/password protections
  • If you are a former or current Texas State University student, you do not need to request an official transcript for any course work, including transferred courses, listed on your Texas State transcript.

  • We will require your study abroad transcript if the courses occurred during the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work before receiving a degree. If study abroad course work is listed on an official U.S. transcript, we may waive the need for foreign transcripts if the following information is present:

    • full course title or prefix
    • semesters attended
    • grades awarded
    • hours attempted
    • credits awarded

    If any of this information is missing, we will require a copy of the official transcript(s) for your application and the official transcript(s) if you are admitted. An international credential fee will be added to the checklist for foreign transcripts requiring grade conversion and/or evaluation.

  • If you have not yet graduated with your bachelor’s degree, please submit a copy of the official transcript with the most recently completed semester’s grades. We will only calculate an applicant’s GPA after the last long (spring or fall) semester of course work prior to graduation has been completed. For example, if you are applying for a program that will begin Fall 2024 and expect to graduate in May 2024, please send transcripts with the Fall 2023 grades. If transcripts are submitted without this information, you will be notified, and your application will not be considered complete until the updated transcript has been received.

      If you are admitted, you will need to submit an official transcript that shows your degree statement.

  • Copies of Official Transcript Requirements  
    In order to complete your application, our office requires the following documents:

    • one official, university-sealed transcript from every university attended in the native language
    • (if the native language is not English) one certified English translation of every transcript from every university attended
    • Indian institution requirements: individual mark sheets for each semester must be submitted signed by the COE/Registrar. Submit as a single PDF under “Transcripts”
    • Effective Fall 2024: Consolidated transcripts and/or individual mark sheets for each semester attended signed by the COE/Registrar. Transcripts must be submitted as a single PDF under “Transcripts.”

    Evaluations and Translations  
    We will evaluate and conduct grade conversions for all international transcripts (including marks sheets); therefore, you are not required to submit any transcript evaluations (only translations are needed if your transcripts are issued in a language other than English). If the international university issues transcripts (including all marks sheets) in English, you only need to provide one official, university-sealed transcript. However, if the international university issues transcripts in a language other than English, you must also provide a second, certified translation into English. We accept translations from certified translators with accompanying documentation. If you have questions, please email gradcollege@txstate.edu.

    Applicants Currently Enrolled in a Degree Program  
    If you have not yet completed your degree program, you are required to submit your most recent transcripts (including all marks sheets) directly to our office. For example, if your bachelor's program is four years in length, you must submit transcripts and marks sheets up to your seventh semester (Year 4, Semester 1) at minimum. If you are admitted into a graduate program at Texas State, you will be required to submit your final transcripts, marks sheets, and degree statements by the end of your first semester of enrollment.

  • The Graduate College requires two copies of official diplomas or degree certificates: one in the native language of the university and one certified translation into English. Certificates must include:

    • the type of degree earned
    • the date the degree had been awarded
    • all official stamps, seals, and/or signatures from the university’s Registrar or Controller of Examinations Office

    Special Circumstances

    • Applicants with credentials from India may submit a provisional certificate of completion in place of their final degree certificate.
    • Applicants with credentials from China must submit a copy of both their graduation certificate(s) and their degree certificate(s), each in the native language and translated into English.
    • Applicants currently studying in the final year of a degree program will not be required to submit a copy of their final degree statement/certificate of completion. However, if admitted, the degree statement will be required by the end of the first semester of enrollment at Texas State.

Enrollment Requirements
If you are admitted, you will need to contact your previous institution(s) to send your official up-to-date transcripts to The Graduate College. Transcripts must be sent directly from your institution electronically* or submitted in a university envelope sealed with the university’s registrar’s signature. If we do not receive your official transcripts before you begin registration for your second semester, a hold will be placed on your account, preventing you from registering, until your official transcripts are received.

*The Graduate College does not accept electronically submitted transcripts from international institutions (educational institutions outside of the U.S.).

Once you have requested your official transcripts from your previous institutions, you will need to check your online application to see if your transcripts have been received by The Graduate College. Your official transcripts will be compared to the documents you uploaded with your application.

  Texas State University reserves the right to require official transcripts at any time during the admissions process and rescind any offer of admission made if discrepancies between uploaded and official transcript(s) are found. 

  • If credit has been granted from an institution other than Texas State University, transcripts must be sent electronically (see below) or mailed directly to The Graduate College from the institution. Transcripts sent via mail must be sealed in a university envelope with the university registrar's signature on the back of the envelope.

    Texas State University
    The Graduate College
    601 University Drive
    San Marcos, TX 78666-4684

    Former or current Texas State students do not have to submit transcripts for course work listed on their Texas State transcripts.

  • Some institutions may use a third-party service to send transcripts officially. The secure third-party vendor must send the electronic transcript to Texas State University’s Graduate College (gradcollege@txstate.edu). Faxed copies sent either by the applicant or the institution's registrar's office will not be accepted, though in some cases, we may accept transcripts emailed directly from the university’s registrar’s office.

    Please note: The Graduate College does not accept electronically submitted transcripts from international institutions (educational institutions outside of the U.S.).

  • Enrollment Requirements*
    In order to enroll, our office requires the following documents:

    • one official, university-sealed transcript (including all marks sheets) from every university attended in the native language
    • (if the native language is not English) one certified English translation of every transcript (including all marks sheets) from every university attended 

    Format
    Academic records (full transcripts, including mark sheets) must be submitted directly to The Graduate College by post in an envelope sealed by the university. The records must be recognized by the appropriate bodies of that country and must include official stamps, seals, and/or signatures from the university’s Registrar or Controller of Examinations. These documents must be printed on university letterhead in order to be considered official.

    Evaluations and Translations
    We will evaluate and conduct grade conversions for all international transcripts (including marks sheets); therefore, you are not required to submit any transcript evaluations (only translations are needed if your transcripts are issued in a language other than English).

    If the international university issues transcripts (including all marks sheets) in English, you only need to provide one official, university-sealed transcript. However, if the international university issues transcripts in a language other than English, you must also provide a second, certified translation into English. We accept translations from certified translators with accompanying documentation. If you have questions, please email gradcollege@txstate.edu.

    Applicants Currently Enrolled in a Degree Program
    If you have not yet completed your degree program, you are required to submit your most recent transcripts (including all marks sheets) directly to our office. For example, if your bachelor's program is four years in length, you must submit transcripts and marks sheets up to your seventh semester (Year 4, Semester 1) at minimum. If you are admitted into a graduate program at Texas State, you will be required to submit your final transcripts, marks sheets, and degree statements by the end of your first semester of enrollment.

    *In order to complete your application, you can submit copies of your complete academic record (including marks sheets, transcripts, and diploma supplements, etc.) in the formats listed above. However, if you are admitted, you will need to provide your official transcripts (including all marks sheets) in order to register for classes.

    You must upload copies of your official transcripts (not print-outs, grade reports, advising transcripts or transcripts stamped "unofficial") during the online application.

    Submitting Official Transcripts:
    If credit has been granted from an international institution (educational institutions outside of the U.S.), transcripts must be mailed directly to The Graduate College from the institution. Transcripts sent via mail must be sealed in a university envelope with the university registrar's signature on the back of the envelope.

    Texas State University
    The Graduate College
    601 University Drive
    San Marcos, TX 78666-4684


Official Test Scores

Some programs require official Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores. When selecting a test date, make sure your scores will be reported in time for your application deadlines. Score reports for computer-delivered tests are sent to your designated score recipients approximately 10–15 days after your test date. 

  GRE and GMAT tests must have been taken within five years of the date you submit your online application to be used for admission consideration.


Documents

Once you submit your online application by paying the application fee, you will be able to upload documents (such as resumes, essays, statements of purpose, etc.). Please review the specific documents required by your program of study.

Only documents required by the program should be submitted for admission consideration. Non-required documents mailed or emailed to The Graduate College will not be retained, nor will documents submitted without the online application.

  • You will request recommendations from your recommenders by entering your recommenders' names and emails directly into the online application. Recommenders will then receive an email with your request and submission instructions. Review tips on requesting recommendations.

  • Some programs require the applicant to secure a mentor to guide them in their particular area of study. In order to confirm the mentorship, the prospective mentors must submit their agreement, the mentor communication, in writing.  

    If this situation pertains to you, you will need to request a mentor, who will be required to email or mail their letter to The Graduate College.