ATU vs. SHSU

Deciding between Arkansas Tech University and Sam Houston State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arkansas Tech University
Sam Houston State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ATU Russellville, AR
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • Setting
  • ATU Remote Town
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ATU 8,746
  • SHSU 21,039
  • Type
  • ATU Public 4 Year
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ATU #960
  • SHSU #794
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ATU -
  • SHSU -
  • Status
  • ATU Non-profit
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ATU
  • SHSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ATU $8,674
  • SHSU $9,228
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ATU $14,668
  • SHSU $19,068
  • Room & Board
  • ATU $10,338
  • SHSU $11,720
  • Average Net Price
  • ATU $12,626
  • SHSU $14,737
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ATU $9,901
  • SHSU $10,669
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ATU 93%
  • SHSU 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ATU 3,654
  • SHSU 17,179
  • Admitted
  • ATU 3,504
  • SHSU 15,506
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ATU 95.9%
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • Enrolled
  • ATU 33.6%
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ATU 990
  • SHSU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • ATU 20
  • SHSU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • ATU 3.37
  • SHSU 3.25
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ATU B+
  • SHSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ATU Extremely Easy
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ATU
  • SHSU
  • ACT Range
  • ATU 17/23
  • SHSU 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • ATU 880/1100
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ATU Required
  • SHSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ATU
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ATU 17:1
  • SHSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ATU
    • Health Professions (23%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Business (12%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ATU 43%
  • SHSU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ATU $37,100
  • SHSU $47,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ATU 51%
  • SHSU 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ATU $17,750
  • SHSU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ATU $183
  • SHSU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ATU 42%
  • SHSU 37%
  • % Women
  • ATU 58%
  • SHSU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ATU Low
  • SHSU High
  • HBCU
  • ATU No
  • SHSU No
  • % White
  • ATU 76%
  • SHSU 53%
  • % Asian
  • ATU 1%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Black
  • ATU 10%
  • SHSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • ATU 6%
  • SHSU 20%
  • % Native American
  • ATU 1%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ATU 0%
  • SHSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ATU 3%
  • SHSU 3%
  • % International
  • ATU 4%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ATU 0%
  • SHSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ATU 94%
  • SHSU 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ATU 5%
  • SHSU 1%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ATU Yes
  • SHSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ATU No
  • SHSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • ATU Yes
  • SHSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ATU Yes
  • SHSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • ATU No
  • SHSU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, AR with Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sam Houston State University is larger than ATU based on total student enrollment (21,039 students vs. 8,746 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arkansas Tech University is located in Russellville, AR (Remote Town setting); Sam Houston State University is in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting).
  • Arkansas Tech University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sam Houston State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arkansas Tech University 17:1; Sam Houston State University 19:1.

ATU vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ATU or SHSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arkansas Tech University than SHSU ($12,626 vs. $14,737).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arkansas Tech University are 11.8% lower than at Sam Houston State University ($10,338 vs. $11,720).
  • Sam Houston State University is 6.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ATU (about $554 more per year; $9,228.00 vs. $8,674.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30% higher at SHSU than at Arkansas Tech University (about $4,400 more per year; $19,068.00 vs. $14,668.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arkansas Tech University than at Sam Houston State University (93% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sam Houston State University students is 7.8% larger than aid received by Arkansas Tech University students ($10,669 vs. $9,901).

ATU vs. SHSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ATU or SHSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SHSU and ATU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sam Houston State University (1030) is 40 points higher than at ATU (990).
  • Incoming ATU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 20) as students at SHSU (20).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 880/1100; Sam Houston State University 930/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arkansas Tech University 17/23; Sam Houston State University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ATU - Required; SHSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SHSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ATU students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at SHSU (3.25).
  • ATU has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than SHSU (90.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.6% at ATU vs. 21.1% at SHSU.

ATU vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ATU and SHSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Sam Houston State University's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than Arkansas Tech University's (43%).
  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn a median of about $10,700 more per year than ATU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Arkansas Tech University graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than SHSU graduates ($17,750 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, ATU graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHSU graduates ($183 vs. $222).
  • More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ATU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.