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College · Catholic life on campus

Texas Southern University

  • LocationHouston, TX
  • Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 8,469 students
Official website

Texas Southern University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

The TSU Catholic Newman Center at 3535 Wheeler Avenue, Houston, is listed by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston as the Catholic campus ministry for Texas Southern University. Its pages list a Wednesday noon Mass, weekly Thursday adoration, Bible study and prayer, and a Newman Club, led by a director and campus minister.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 1

  • Wednesday12:00 PMTSU Newman Center · Listed under center hours on the Visit Us page; room not named.

Adoration 1

  • Thursday12:00 PMTSU Newman Center · Listed as a weekly activity on the center's home page; room not named.

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 12, 2026.

Sources for these times (2)
  1. Visit Us | TSU Newman Centertsunewmancenter.com/visit-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “WEDNESDAY mass at 12 pm”
    The center's Visit Us page lists Mass at 12 PM on Wednesdays.
  2. Home | TSU Newman Centertsunewmancenter.com · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “THURSDAY ADORATION 12 NOON”
    The center's home page lists Thursday adoration at noon.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Texas Southern University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.5 mi1 mi2 miTSU Catholic Newman Center: 0.3 mi1Saint Marys Catholic Church: 0.5 mi2St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church: 0.5 mi3Catholic Newman Center: 1.4 mi4Catholic Charismatic Center: 1.5 mi5Holy Rosary Church: 1.7 mi6TSU Catholic Newman Center: 0.3 miTexas Southern University (campus)N1 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. TSU Catholic Newman Center — 0.3 mi
  2. Saint Marys Catholic Church — 0.5 mi
  3. St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church — 0.5 mi
  4. Catholic Newman Center — 1.4 mi
  5. Catholic Charismatic Center — 1.5 mi
  6. Holy Rosary Church — 1.7 mi · 3617 Milam Street, Houston

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

BCatholic life on campus: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Catholic life on campus

72 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes
    Sources (1)
    1. University Campus Ministry | Archdiocese of Galveston-Houstonarchgh.org/campusministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Schools Supported: Texas Southern University”
      The archdiocese's campus ministry directory lists the TSU Newman Center as serving Texas Southern University.
      “TSU Newman Center 3535 Wheeler Ave. Houston, TX 77004”
      The archdiocese lists the TSU Newman Center at 3535 Wheeler Avenue, Houston, TX 77004.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusYes (Dedicated Catholic center at 3535 Wheeler Avenue; distance from campus is computed from the address.)
    Sources (2)
    1. University Campus Ministry | Archdiocese of Galveston-Houstonarchgh.org/campusministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “TSU Newman Center 3535 Wheeler Ave. Houston, TX 77004”
      The archdiocese lists the TSU Newman Center at 3535 Wheeler Avenue, Houston, TX 77004.
    2. About Us | TSU Newman Centertsunewmancenter.com/about-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “We provide a clean and functional facility where students may interact with peers, study, and pray.”
      The center describes its facility as a place for students to study and pray.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryPart-time or shared priest (A Wednesday Mass is listed; the priest role is recorded as parttime under the rule for Masses with no named priest.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Visit Us | TSU Newman Centertsunewmancenter.com/visit-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “WEDNESDAY mass at 12 pm”
      The center's Visit Us page lists Mass at 12 PM on Wednesdays.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministry1–4 weekdays (One weekday Mass is listed: Wednesday at 12 PM.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Visit Us | TSU Newman Centertsunewmancenter.com/visit-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “WEDNESDAY mass at 12 pm”
      The center's Visit Us page lists Mass at 12 PM on Wednesdays.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Two or more (The TSU Newman Club is listed, and a Thursday Bible study with dinner is offered.)
    Sources (2)
    1. About Us | TSU Newman Centertsunewmancenter.com/about-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “President TSU Newman Club”
      The center lists a student officer of the TSU Newman Club.
    2. Visit Us | TSU Newman Centertsunewmancenter.com/visit-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “thursday bible study + dinner 7 pm”
      The center lists a Thursday Bible study with dinner at 7 PM.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)One kind (One kind listed: small-group Bible study with dinner.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Visit Us | TSU Newman Centertsunewmancenter.com/visit-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “thursday bible study + dinner 7 pm”
      The center lists a Thursday Bible study with dinner at 7 PM.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 1 mile of campusComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adoration1 to 5 times a week (2 weekly times documented: 1 Mass, 0 confession, 1 adoration.)Computed from the verified Mass, confession, and adoration times listed on this page (each day a time is offered counts once).

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • A dedicated Catholic center is listed at 3535 Wheeler Avenue, with a named director and campus minister.
    Sources (2)
    1. University Campus Ministry | Archdiocese of Galveston-Houstonarchgh.org/campusministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “TSU Newman Center 3535 Wheeler Ave. Houston, TX 77004”
      The archdiocese lists the TSU Newman Center at 3535 Wheeler Avenue, Houston, TX 77004.
    2. About Us | TSU Newman Centertsunewmancenter.com/about-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Doris M. Barrow, III Director & Campus Minister”
      Doris M. Barrow, III is listed as Director and Campus Minister.
  • Weekly Thursday prayer, adoration and Bible study are listed, along with a Wednesday Mass.
    Sources (2)
    1. Visit Us | TSU Newman Centertsunewmancenter.com/visit-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “WEDNESDAY mass at 12 pm”
      The center's Visit Us page lists Mass at 12 PM on Wednesdays.
      “thursday bible study + dinner 7 pm”
      The center lists a Thursday Bible study with dinner at 7 PM.
    2. Home | TSU Newman Centertsunewmancenter.com · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “THURSDAY ADORATION 12 NOON”
      The center's home page lists Thursday adoration at noon.

Concerns

None recorded.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

TSU Catholic Newman Center

  • Address: 3535 Wheeler Avenue, Houston, TX 77004
  • Distance from campus: 0.3 mi (straight line from the campus point in federal IPEDS data)
  • Facilities: study space, prayer space

View on map ↗

Source: archgh.org, verified Oct. 12, 2026, tsunewmancenter.com, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

5 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 0 off campus, 5 location not published

Faith formation 2

Clubs and groups 1

  • TSU Newman Club
    Student club of the TSU Catholic Newman Center, with student officers listed on the center's About Us page.
    tsunewmancenter.com

Liturgy and prayer 1

  • Thursday midday prayer
    Thursdays 3 PM
    Midday prayer listed each Thursday on the center's home page.
    tsunewmancenter.com

Other 1

  • Student study and prayer space
    Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM
    The center's facility is open to students to study and pray during these hours.
    tsunewmancenter.com

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (2)
  1. University Campus Ministry | Archdiocese of Galveston-Houstonarchgh.org/campusministry · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Schools Supported: Texas Southern University”
    The archdiocese's campus ministry directory lists the TSU Newman Center as serving Texas Southern University.
    “TSU Newman Center 3535 Wheeler Ave. Houston, TX 77004”
    The archdiocese lists the TSU Newman Center at 3535 Wheeler Avenue, Houston, TX 77004.
  2. About Us | TSU Newman Centertsunewmancenter.com/about-us · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “The TSU Catholic Newman Center is a welcoming faith community that provides services to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Texas Southern University.”
    The TSU Catholic Newman Center describes itself as a faith community serving Texas Southern University.
    “We provide a clean and functional facility where students may interact with peers, study, and pray.”
    The center describes its facility as a place for students to study and pray.

Reach out

Contact details for Doris M. Barrow, III (Director & Campus Minister) and 2 official social and news channels are available to signed-in users.

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Academic Excellence

FAcademic Excellence: Minimal (grade F): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
35 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.22%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.66%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 914 · ACT 17
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.19 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$8,340

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
6,619
Total students8,469
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$16,590
Cost of attendance (per year)$27,052
Median federal debt at graduation$29,000
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
22%
First-year retention66%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$38,924
Admission rate97%
Students receiving Pell grants72%
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT914
SAT reading & writing420–520
SAT math380–480
ACT composite15–19
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 25 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

The Most Reverend Joe S. Vásquez, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

  • IPEDS unit ID 229063
  • Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (high research)
  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
  • Report an error or a newer source
  • Respond as this school

Questions families ask

Is Texas Southern University a Catholic college?
No. Texas Southern University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by TSU Catholic Newman Center.
What is Texas Southern University’s Catholic Life Score?
63 out of 100 (grade B). It measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes, together with academics.
Where is Mass celebrated at Texas Southern University?
Mass is listed at TSU Newman Center. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

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