Sam Houston State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Huntsville, Texas. It enrolls 17,743 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
67/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes43
Value69
Affordability70
Selectivity19
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 90.3%, Sam Houston State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
90.3%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
930 – 1120
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
17 – 24
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Sam Houston State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
2.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Sam Houston State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,404 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,404
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
41%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
46%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$9,228
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$19,068
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,720
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,720
Books & Supplies
$1,380
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,866
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,866
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,505
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,474
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,389
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,540
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,366
Over $110,000
$24,101
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,75010%percentile
$6,69325%percentile
$21,983Medianpercentile
$26,00075%percentile
$35,75090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,250
↓ $3,733
No Pell $14,000
↓ $7,983
Dependent students $15,000
↓ $6,983
Independent students $19,714
↓ $2,269
Female students $17,068
↓ $4,915
Male students $15,000
↓ $6,983
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($21,983), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
60% of full-time students who enrolled at Sam Houston State University graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
60%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Sam Houston State University earn a median of $54,211 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$54,211
Earning > $25K
81%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$41,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$60,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$46,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$49,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$52,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $18,500, about 31% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
13.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Sam Houston State University is home to 17,743 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
17,743
Part-Time
16%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 44.3%7,865
Hispanic 29.1%5,154
Black 17.9%3,178
Other 4.6%807
Asian 2.2%381
International 0.7%128
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Sam Houston State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantHuntsville, Texas
Housing
Partly residential4,112 beds available
Adult Learners
14%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Sam Houston State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
115 distinct programs across
26 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Sam Houston State University is 20:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,206
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$164M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$74,780
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
836 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
184
22%
$104,215
Associate Professors
190
23%
$86,579
Assistant Professors
187
22%
$73,683
Instructors
1
0%
$71,982
Lecturers
274
33%
$46,691
Pros & Cons of Sam Houston State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Sam Houston State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Sam Houston State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sam Houston State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Sam Houston State University.
Is Sam Houston State University hard to get into?
Sam Houston State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 90.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at Sam Houston State University?
Sam Houston State University has an acceptance rate of 90.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Sam Houston State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Sam Houston State University scored between 930 and 1120 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Sam Houston State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Sam Houston State University scored between 17 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Sam Houston State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Sam Houston State University is $16,404 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Sam Houston State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,211 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,404 per year. That's roughly 3.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Sam Houston State University known for?
Sam Houston State University is best known for its programs in Criminal Justice, Teacher Education (K-12), Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Sam Houston State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Sam Houston State University are $54,211, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Sam Houston State University accredited?
Yes. Sam Houston State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Sam Houston State University?
Sam Houston State University enrolls 17,743 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Sam Houston State University?
Sam Houston State University graduates 60% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Sam Houston State University a public or private college?
Sam Houston State University is a Public institution.
Where is Sam Houston State University located?
Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville, Texas.
What programs does Sam Houston State University offer?
Sam Houston State University offers 115 distinct programs. The most popular include Criminal Justice, Teacher Education (K-12), Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Sam Houston State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Sam Houston State University is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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