Tarleton State Fort Worth comprehensive vision covers next two decades
A place where cows once stood is now rooted and rising. Rooted in tradition and rising in ambition.
That was the theme on Thursday, April 30 as Tarleton State University Fort Worth unveiled an updated master plan for its campus located just off Chisholm Trail Parkway. It includes a comprehensive vision for continued growth over the next two decades.
“The first month, literally, we had cows in the parking lot,” said Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley, drawing a laugh from the crowd, as he reminisced back to when the first building opened at their Fort Worth campus. “The reason this city is growing is opportunity. This campus represents opportunity.”
The event included a fireside chat with Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, Fort Worth District 6 Councilwoman Dr. Mia Hall, and Fort Worth City Manager Jay Chapa, with Hurley moderating.
Parker, who grew up in Hico and often visited the Stephenville campus, knows a thing or two about being young and successful. She is the youngest mayor of a major U.S. city, first elected in 2021 at age 37 and was re-elected to a third term in May of 2025.
As part of her success, she has earned a reputation as the “education mayor” as she has often prioritized school reform, literacy, and workforce development in her administration
“Tarleton State is pivotal in addressing Fort Worth’s education needs by ensuring we have the skilled professionals to meet the workforce demands of the 11th largest city in the nation,” she said. “This investment will not only transform the lives of students, but will have a lasting, positive impact on our community for generations to come.”
Statistics show that Tarleton State is the fastest growing University system in Texas, and Hurley said the Fort Worth campus and its vision fits perfectly within that growth.
“We can’t build it fast enough,” he said.
“We’re no longer talking about potential, we’re designing for it and we’re building it,” said Dr. Rachael Capua, Vice President of External Operations and Dean of Tarleton State Fort Worth.
“This is not about what could be happening some day, it’s about what’s happening right now.”
WHAT’S IN THE PLAN
“Our updated Fort Worth Master Plan represents a bold and strategic vision for our future,” Hurley said. “This inspired blueprint will drive our growth and strengthen our commitment to advancing discovery, empowering innovation and fostering service in the community.
“Meeting workforce demands in a rapidly growing region is critical for long-term prosperity, and this plan positions Tarleton State to impact generations of students and the communities we serve for years to come.”
The refreshed Tarleton State Fort Worth Master Plan outlines phased development that will transform the campus into a vibrant, comprehensive university environment featuring:
*Expanded academic facilities supporting program growth and innovation.
*A centralized student center with dining and collaboration spaces.
*An intentional design to create a true “campus town” feel.
*Five distinct zones include academic buildings, student housing, recreation spaces, and subsequent developments.
*Ample green spaces and future expansions include greenways, campus quads, and rooftop terraces, creating additional event space.
*Connection to Chisholm Trail Parkway will improve access and campus visibility. Breaking ground in 2026 and opening in 2028, a newly built overpass off
Chisholm Trail Parkway will create direct access to Tarleton State Fort Worth. In 2025, the Fort Worth City Council voted to rename the overpass from Fort Worth Creek Parkway to Tarleton State Parkway.
*Partnership with Trinity Metro to provide better mobility to and from the campus.
“Tarleton State’s dynamic growth is making a great impact on our region and Trinity Metro is happy to be a strategic partner in making its campus even more accessible for students,” said Trinity Metro President/CEO Rich Andreski. “We are committed to finding innovative solutions for both on-campus mobility and regional access.”
Plans are also underway to incorporate a residential community at Tarleton State Fort Worth, creating a place where students have an immersive, holistic college experience that is both affordable and accessible.
The impact is also extending beyond the campus near Chisholm Trail. As a founding member of The Texas A&M University System, it was announced that, beginning in the fall 2026 semester, Tarleton State will occupy portions of the sixth through eighth floors of the new Texas A&M-Fort Worth Law & Education Building in downtown Fort Worth. This space will allow the school to offer an array of academic programs, including upper-level coursework and completion programs focused on health sciences.
“This is a moment, don’t forget that,” said Dr. Kim McCuistion, who also recalled cows when she previously worked for the Tarleton State Fort Worth campus.
“Ths is a moment for the university, for the city of Fort Worth,” she said.
BIG ENDORSEMENTS
“Tarleton State University’s expansion into Fort Worth directly addresses our city’s need to continue the growth of the highly skilled, localized talent pipeline that is driving our business growth by aligning program offerings with the demands of our business and industry sectors,” Chapa said.
Hall called Tarleton State Fort Worth the “official university of District 6.”
“Its continued economic growth represents a lasting investment in both our community and the future leaders who will call this district home,” she said. “This is such a connection. It’s a short time, but the impact has been so dramatic.”
Matt Carter, President and General Manager of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, noted his organization’s long-standing successful relationship with Tarleton.
“Beginning in the 1970s, our partnership with Tarleton State has brought hundreds of students to work at the Stock Show through our internship program,” Carter said. “Our bonds have only strengthened since the opening of the Fort Worth campus, as scholarship contributions to Tarleton State Texans have increased 40 percent since that time.”
The growth and future potential has not escaped state-wide notice as well.
“It has been an honor to represent Tarleton State’s Fort Worth campus for over a decade. The strong partnership between Fort Worth and Tarleton State has driven economic growth and expanded educational opportunities for all in Tarrant and our surrounding counties,” said Texas District 12 U.S. Representative Craig Goldman. “As this partnership grows and the campus expands, it will continue to have a positive impact on our region for generations to come.”
LONG-TIME PRESENCE
While the current location is still young, Tarleton State has had a presence in Fort Worth since 1978. It was first established with Dr. Lamar Johanson’s medical laboratory science program, which expanded and relocated to the Richard C. Schaffer Building in the 1990s.
A move to the Hickman Building in 2006 marked a turning point. Student numbers grew significantly to over 1,700 by 2015.
In 2014 Walton Global donated 80 acres in Fort Worth, paving the way for a permanent campus in the city. Five years later the Campus Administration Building opened, the first of many slated in the first master plan, approved in 2017.
Two years ago the Interprofessional Education Building opened in the fall to
welcome the inaugural cohort of first- and second-year students.
And that brings us to now, with many more exciting happenings on the horizon. The enhanced master plan is necessary to meet the workforce and educational needs in one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions.
Fort Worth itself recently surpassed a million people in population. The Fort Worth-Arlington region, which includes Tarrant, Johnson, Parker and Wise Counties, has a population of around 2.6 million.
“The updated Fort Worth Master Plan reflects Tarleton State’s deep and growing commitment to this community and the students we serve,” Capua said. “As Fort Worth continues to grow, our campus is evolving alongside it, creating expanded opportunities for students, strengthening workforce partnerships and building a vibrant university environment that serves learners, employers, and the region for generations to come.”
Since its 1978 beginning in Fort Worth with eight students, Tarleton State’s presence has grown significantly. Today, nearly 2,600 students are enrolled across more than 60 academic programs, with enrollment projected to exceed 16,000 students by the end of the master plan.
