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Lamar University University of Houston-Downtown SFASU Tarleton Texas State UH UNT TAMUK Texas A&M A&M Commerce UTSA Texas Tech| Houston Baptist University | Sam Houston State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
HBU | SHSU | ||
| Location | Houston, TX | Huntsville, TX | ||
| Setting | Large City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 4,257 | 21,480 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #740 | #778 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Southern Baptist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | hbu.edu | shsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
HBU | SHSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $34,250 | $5,856 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $34,250 | $15,648 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,130 | $10,908 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,515 | $13,632 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $26,908 | $10,499 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 73% |
Admission |
HBU | SHSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,258 | 16,316 | ||
| Admitted | 8,666 | 13,809 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.5% | 84.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 8.4% | 24.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.46 | 3.25 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/26 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1060/1230 | 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 |
HBU | SHSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
HBU | SHSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 45% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,600 | $47,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 54% | 57% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,166 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $249 | $222 |
Diversity |
HBU | SHSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 27% | 53% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 19% | ||
| % Hispanic | 30% | 20% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 4% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
HBU | SHSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 91% | 98% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 1% | ||
Campus |
HBU | SHSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Sam Houston State University is larger than than HBU based on total student enrollment (21,480 students vs. 4,257 students)
HBU vs. SHSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, HBU or SHSU?
- Houston Baptist University is 484.9% more expensive to attend than SHSU for in-state tuition ($34,250.00 vs. $5,856.00)
- Out of state tuition is 118.9% higher at HBU than Sam Houston State University ($34,250.00 vs. $15,648.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sam Houston State University than HBU ($13,632 vs. $19,515)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Houston Baptist University are 19.5% lower than costs at Sam Houston State University ($9,130 vs. $10,908)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Houston Baptist University than Sam Houston State University (100% vs. 73%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Houston Baptist University students is 156.3% larger than aid received Sam Houston State University ($26,908 vs. $10,499)
HBU vs. SHSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, HBU or SHSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SHSU or HBU .
- The average SAT score at Houston Baptist University (1060) is 63 points higher than at SHSU (997)
- Incoming HBU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at SHSU (22)
- Accepted freshman HBU 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 (84.6%) than HBU (84.5%)
HBU vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, HBU 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 HBU.
- The graduation rate at SHSU is higher than Houston Baptist University (50% vs. 45%)
- Graduates from Houston Baptist University earn on average $3,800 more per year than SHSU graduates after ten years. ($51,600 vs. $47,800)
- Sam Houston State University students graduate with a $2,666 lower median federal student loan debt than HBU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,166)
- SHSU graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than HBU graduates. ($222 vs. $249)
- More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former HBU 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/