Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University

Sam Houston State University

Huntsville, TX, USA
Public
4 Year

Overview

Sam Houston University is a public, 4-year institution located in Huntsville, Texas. Founded in 1879, SHSU is the third oldest public university in the state and a member of the Texas State University System. The university provides 170 fields of study through seven schools and colleges, resulting in more than 80 undergraduate degrees, 50+ master’s degrees, and upwards of 15 certificates. The rural, 316-acre Huntsville campus offers more than 250 student organizations, an observatory, planetarium, and 18-hole golf course. SHSU also offers courses of study at The Woodlands campus and an online program.

Acceptance Rate:
85%
Average Net Price:
$13,904
Campus Setting:
Suburb or town
Average GPA
3.3
Average ACT Composite
23
Average SAT Composite
1071

Tuition, Cost & Aid

Affordability & Cost

Average Net Price
$13,904
Calculate your net cost
Tuition
In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
$9,228
Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state’s or institution’s residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.
$19,020
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
  • (amount for on-campus room, board and other expenses * # of students living on-campus.
  • + amount for off-campus (with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus with family
  • + amount for off-campus (not with family) room, board and other expenses * # of students living off-campus not with family)
divided by the total # of students. Students whose living arrangements are unknown are excluded from the calculation. For some institutions the # of students by living arrangement will be known, but dollar amounts will not be known. In this case the # of students with no corresponding dollar amount will be excluded from the denominator.
$11,720
Books and Supplies
$1380
Average Net Price By Family Income
Income
Average Amount
< $30k
$10,354
$30k - $48k
$11,586
$48k - $75k
$15,540
$75k - $110k
$20,752
$110k+
$22,678
Financial Aid: visit page
Financial Aid Email: [email protected]

Aid & Grants

0
100
56%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
40%
Average Aid Per Year
$10,499
Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
40%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$5,543
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$6,247

 

Students receiving state aid
60%
Average State Grant Aid Per Year
$6748
Students receiving federal aid
56%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$5,543
Total Needs Based Scholarships/Grants Total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to all undergraduates from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution.
$82,988,960
Total Non-Need-Based Scholarships/Grants
$6,161,873

Student Loans

Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
52%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$5,658
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$16,306
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$212
Students receiving federal loans
51%
Average Federal Loans Per Year
$5,503
Average Other Loans Per Year
$14,585

 

Admissions

Key Admissions Stats

Institution Type
Public
  • Not for Profit
  • Coed

Need Aware

This school may consider an applicant’s financial situation when deciding admission

Level of Institution
4 Year
Campus Setting
Suburb or town
0
100
85%
Acceptance Rate
16316
Students Applied
96%
Transfer Acceptance Rate
1688
Transfer Students Admitted

Admissions Requirements

SAT
SAT is not checked
No
ACT
ACT is not checked
No
Transcript
Transcript is checked
Yes
Test Optional
Item is checked
Yes
SAT Subject Tests
Item is checked
Yes
AP Course Credit
Item is checked
Yes
Dual Enrollment
Item is checked
Yes

Important Deadlines

Application TypeApplication DeadlineReply Deadline
Fall Regular DecisionAugust 1
Spring Regular DecisionDecember 1
Application Fee
$50
Fee waivers available
Applications Accepted
State-Specific Application
State-Specific Application

Admitted Student Stats

In-State Students
98%
Out-Of-State Students
1%
9%
Submitting ACT
51%
Submitting SAT
Average ACT Composite: 23
0
36
Average SAT Composite: 1071
0
1600
SAT Percentiles

Math
25th
470
75th
560
Reading
25th
490
75th
580
3.3
Average GPA
Students Enrolled By Class Rank

Top 10%
12
Top 25%
35
Top 50%
71
Students Enrolled By Household Income

< $30k
625
$30k - $48k
359
$48k - $75k
304
$75k - $110k
272
$110k+
346

Admissions Resources

Admissions: visit page
Admissions Email: [email protected]
Admissions Telephone: 936-294-1828
For International Student Services: visit page
For Students with Disabilities: visit page
For Veteran Services: visit page

Academics

Key Academic Stats

Highest Degree Offered
Doctorate
Total Number of Students
21,480
Total Number of Undergrads
18,235
0
100
34%
Graduate in 4 Years US National: 28%
0
100
58%
Graduate in 6 Years US National: 52%
Student:Faculty Ratio
20:1
US National: 21:1
Academic Calendar

Semester

Non Traditional Learning
  • Online Classes
  • Online Undergrad Degrees
  • Summer Sessions
  • Combined Institution Double Degree Programs
  • Some Programs Requires Co-Op/Internship
Learning Options
  • ROTC Army
  • Study Abroad
  • Honors Program
  • Teacher Certification Offered
Classroom Sizes

2-19 Students
29%
20-39 Students
53%
40-99 Students
13%
100+ Students
3%
 

Degrees and Majors

MAJORS
103

Faculty Overview

0
100
74%
Faculty With Terminal Degree US National: 36%
Gender
Male
Female
Ethnicity

African American
Asian/Pacific Islander
White
Hispanic

Campus Life

Key Campus Stats

Student Gender
Male
Female
37%
63%
Residency
In-State Students
98%
Out-Of-State Students
1%
Size of Town
Suburb or town
US States Represented
47
Countries Represented
61
Ethnicity
African American
16%
Asian/Pacific Islander
2%
Hispanic
27%
Native American
1%
White
47%
Multiracial
4%
Unknown
2%
Percent of First Generation Students
41%
Student Organizations
180
LGBTQIA Student Resource Groups
Item is checked
Yes
On Campus Women's Center
Item is not checked
No
Cultural Student Resource Groups
Item is checked
Yes

Housing

0
100
21%
Undergrads Living on Campus
On-campus living required of freshman
Yes
Disability Housing Available
Yes
0
100
23%
Freshman Living on Campus

Athletics

Divisional Sports Nickname
Bearkats
School Colors
orange and white
Varsity Athletics Association
NCAA
Varsity Athletics Conference Primary
Conference USA
Total Male Athletes
218
Total Female Athletes
155
Intramural Sports
12
Sports Club
2
Sports Team (Men)
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Track and Field
Sports Team (Women)
  • Basketball
  • Bowling
  • Cross Country
  • Golf
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Tennis
  • Track and Field
  • Volleyball
Sam Houston State University Athletics: visit page

Campus Safety

24-HR security patrol
24-HR security patrol is checked
Yes
Campus emergency phones
Campus emergency phones is checked
Yes
24-HR escort safety rides
Item is checked
Yes
Mobile campus emergency alert
Item is checked
Yes

After Graduation

Post Grad Stats

Average Salary
6 years after graduation
$49,700
Top 5 Cities
Houston
Dallas
Austin
College Station
San Antonio
Top 5 Employers
Sam Houston State University
Lone Star College
Conroe Independent School District
Houston ISD
Texas A&M
Top 5 Sectors
Education
Business Development
Operations
Sales
Community and Social Services
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$16,306
Loan Default Rate
8%
National: 8%
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$212
College is a time to expand the knowledge you already have and pursue new knowledge for use through the rest of your life. Sam Houston has allowed me to do both. In just the two semesters I have been here, I have learned more than I ever did in High School. The college atmosphere and college teachers teach you not only about what ever subject you are learning but how it applies to life as well.
Jessica from Spring, TX
The teachers here make you eager to learn as much as you possibly can. If you are willing to make the initiative, they are willing to dedicate as much time as you need to help you. There is so much to learn here at Sam Houston State University and the classroom environment makes it even easier to learn.
Amethyst from Dallas, TX
The professors here are great. Most of them want to get to know their students one on one and are very understanding to each students needs. Also, most of the classes are relatively small in size which makes it easier to excel in the classroom.
amanda from conroe, TX
Sam Houston is a school meant for you to do well academically if you do your work. I have met life long friends in just a year and also had the time of my life and I can't wait to go back in the Fall. Just know that it doesn't matter where you are but rather how your time is spent.
Rachael from Highland Village, TX
Sam Houston is a great learning environment, Every professor I've had has been extremely knowledgeable and helpful. I've walked away from every class with a completely new outlook on that subject.
Mariah from Huntsville, TX
At this school there is a great opportunity to learn outside the classroom. There are plenty of workshops that are available for you to attend that help with financial aid, getting a job, even leadership workshops. The professors are also generally willing to help a student if they ask for it. Most of them are actually concerned about their students and wants them to achieve. This is an advantage to most schools because its not a if you do not get it oh well type of atmosphere.
Tracye from Dallas, TX
sam houston state university has an amazing environment. the teacher-student ratio is perfect. the atmosphere is perfect for anyone who doesn't want to get lost in the crowd.
Felicia from Cedar Park, TX
Sam Houston isn't too big of a school, but it's not very small either. It's just the right size, giving classrooms the perfect amount of students for professors to handle. Teachers give attention when you need it, and if you don't feel like teachers are enough, there are different centers from writing to reading around campus to help tutor you.
Cathy from Richardson, TX
Sam Houston has a beautiful campus. It's also very hilly and makes a great place for students who want to go out for a run or walk. The administrators and professors are really friendly and take the time to take care of the students' needs, which is something that doesn't happen all the time at larger universities.
from Richmond, TX
Sam Houston State University is an amazing school! If want to go to a school with a small town feel, small student to teacher ratio, and students that have great school spirit, then this is the school for you!
Kathleen from Houston, TX