DBU vs. SHSU

Deciding between Dallas Baptist 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.

Dallas Baptist University
Sam Houston State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • DBU Dallas, TX
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • Setting
  • DBU Large City
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • DBU 4,124
  • SHSU 21,039
  • Type
  • DBU Private 4 Year
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DBU #542
  • SHSU #794
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DBU Baptist
  • SHSU -
  • Status
  • DBU Non-profit
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DBU
  • SHSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DBU $40,190
  • SHSU $9,228
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DBU $40,190
  • SHSU $19,068
  • Room & Board
  • DBU $11,876
  • SHSU $11,720
  • Average Net Price
  • DBU $30,057
  • SHSU $14,737
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DBU $22,711
  • SHSU $10,669
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DBU 97%
  • SHSU 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DBU 6,163
  • SHSU 17,179
  • Admitted
  • DBU 5,475
  • SHSU 15,506
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DBU 88.8%
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • Enrolled
  • DBU 11.2%
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DBU 1090
  • SHSU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • DBU 23
  • SHSU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • DBU 3.46
  • SHSU 3.25
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DBU B+
  • SHSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • DBU Moderate
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • DBU
  • SHSU
  • ACT Range
  • DBU 20/26
  • SHSU 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • DBU 960/1213
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DBU Test optional
  • SHSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • DBU
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DBU 16:1
  • SHSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DBU
    • Business (28%)
    • General Studies (15%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DBU 56%
  • SHSU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DBU $47,700
  • SHSU $47,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DBU 54%
  • SHSU 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DBU $21,750
  • SHSU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DBU $224
  • SHSU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DBU 41%
  • SHSU 37%
  • % Women
  • DBU 59%
  • SHSU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DBU High
  • SHSU High
  • HBCU
  • DBU No
  • SHSU No
  • % White
  • DBU 60%
  • SHSU 53%
  • % Asian
  • DBU 2%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Black
  • DBU 15%
  • SHSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • DBU 15%
  • SHSU 20%
  • % Native American
  • DBU 1%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DBU 0%
  • SHSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DBU 0%
  • SHSU 3%
  • % International
  • DBU 7%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DBU 0%
  • SHSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DBU 92%
  • SHSU 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DBU 8%
  • SHSU 1%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Dallas Baptist University in Dallas, TX 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 DBU based on total student enrollment (21,039 students vs. 4,124 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dallas Baptist University is located in Dallas, TX (Large City setting); Sam Houston State University is in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting).
  • Dallas Baptist University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sam Houston State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dallas Baptist University 16:1; Sam Houston State University 19:1.

DBU vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DBU 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 Sam Houston State University than DBU ($14,737 vs. $30,057).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sam Houston State University are 1.3% lower than at Dallas Baptist University ($11,720 vs. $11,876).
  • Dallas Baptist University is 335.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHSU (about $30,962 more per year; $40,190.00 vs. $9,228.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 110.8% higher at DBU than at Sam Houston State University (about $21,122 more per year; $40,190.00 vs. $19,068.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dallas Baptist University than at Sam Houston State University (97% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dallas Baptist University students is 112.9% larger than aid received by Sam Houston State University students ($22,711 vs. $10,669).

DBU vs. SHSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DBU 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 DBU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dallas Baptist University (1090) is 60 points higher than at SHSU (1030).
  • Incoming DBU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 20 at SHSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dallas Baptist University 960/1213; Sam Houston State University 930/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dallas Baptist University 20/26; Sam Houston State University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DBU - Test optional; SHSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SHSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman DBU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at SHSU (3.25).
  • SHSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.3%) than DBU (88.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at DBU vs. 21.1% at SHSU.

DBU vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DBU 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).

  • Dallas Baptist University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than Sam Houston State University's (50%).
  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn a median of about $100 more per year than DBU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $47,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sam Houston State University graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than DBU graduates ($21,500 vs. $21,750).
  • Among borrowers, SHSU graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DBU graduates ($222 vs. $224).
  • More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DBU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 54%)

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.