DBU vs. SHSU

Should I go to Dallas Baptist University or Sam Houston State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if DBU or SHSU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Dallas Baptist University vs. Sam Houston State University comparison
Dallas Baptist University Sam Houston State University College 3 College 4
Dallas Baptist University Sam Houston State University
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Overview

 DBU SHSU
Location Dallas, TX Huntsville, TX
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 4,348 21,480
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #595 #778
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website dbu.edu shsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 DBU SHSU
Tuition (In State) $33,810 $5,856
Tuition (Out of State) $33,810 $15,648
Room & Board $9,351 $10,908
Avg Net Price $27,607 $13,632
Avg Grant Aid $18,797 $10,499
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 73%

Admission

 DBU SHSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,519 16,316
Admitted 7,784 13,809
Acceptance Rate 91.4% 84.6%
Enrolled % 8.8% 24.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.25
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25 18/24
SAT Range 970/1200 960/1140
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 DBU SHSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (28%)
  • General Studies (15%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 DBU SHSU
% Men 42% 36%
% Women 58% 64%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 60% 53%
% Black 15% 19%
% Hispanic 15% 20%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 7% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

 DBU SHSU
% In-State 86% 98%
% Out-of-State 12% 1%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Sam Houston State University is larger than than DBU based on total student enrollment (21,480 students vs. 4,348 students)

DBU vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DBU or SHSU?

  • Dallas Baptist University is 477.4% more expensive to attend than SHSU for in-state tuition ($33,810.00 vs. $5,856.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 116.1% higher at DBU than Sam Houston State University ($33,810.00 vs. $15,648.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sam Houston State University than DBU ($13,632 vs. $27,607)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dallas Baptist University are 16.7% lower than costs at Sam Houston State University ($9,351 vs. $10,908)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Dallas Baptist University than Sam Houston State University (95% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dallas Baptist University students is 79% larger than aid received Sam Houston State University ($18,797 vs. $10,499)

DBU vs. SHSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DBU or SHSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SHSU or DBU .

  • The average SAT score at Dallas Baptist University (1055) is 58 points higher than at SHSU (997)
  • Incoming DBU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at SHSU (22)
  • Accepted freshman DBU students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at SHSU (3.25)
  • DBU has a higher acceptance rate (91.4%) than SHSU (84.6%)

DBU vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, DBU or SHSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SHSU and DBU.

  • The graduation rate at DBU is higher than Sam Houston State University (56% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn on average $100 more per year than DBU graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $47,700)
  • Sam Houston State University students graduate with a $250 lower median federal student loan debt than DBU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $21,750)
  • SHSU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans 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/