HBU vs. SHSU

Deciding between Houston Christian 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.

Houston Christian University
Sam Houston State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • HBU Houston, TX
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • Setting
  • HBU Large City
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • HBU 4,276
  • SHSU 21,039
  • Type
  • HBU Private 4 Year
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HBU #837
  • SHSU #794
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HBU Southern Baptist
  • SHSU -
  • Status
  • HBU Non-profit
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HBU
  • SHSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HBU $39,430
  • SHSU $9,228
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HBU $39,430
  • SHSU $19,068
  • Room & Board
  • HBU $12,928
  • SHSU $11,720
  • Average Net Price
  • HBU $21,282
  • SHSU $14,737
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HBU $28,870
  • SHSU $10,669
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HBU 100%
  • SHSU 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HBU 8,455
  • SHSU 17,179
  • Admitted
  • HBU 7,139
  • SHSU 15,506
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HBU 84.4%
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • Enrolled
  • HBU 10.5%
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HBU 1090
  • SHSU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • HBU 20
  • SHSU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • HBU 3.46
  • SHSU 3.25
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HBU B+
  • SHSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • HBU Easy
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • HBU
  • SHSU
  • ACT Range
  • HBU 17/24
  • SHSU 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • HBU 990/1190
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HBU Test optional
  • SHSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • HBU
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HBU 18:1
  • SHSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HBU
    • Business (21%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HBU 45%
  • SHSU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HBU $51,600
  • SHSU $47,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HBU 54%
  • SHSU 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HBU $24,166
  • SHSU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HBU $249
  • SHSU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HBU 36%
  • SHSU 37%
  • % Women
  • HBU 64%
  • SHSU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HBU Very High
  • SHSU High
  • HBCU
  • HBU No
  • SHSU No
  • % White
  • HBU 27%
  • SHSU 53%
  • % Asian
  • HBU 10%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Black
  • HBU 19%
  • SHSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • HBU 30%
  • SHSU 20%
  • % Native American
  • HBU 0%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HBU 0%
  • SHSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HBU 5%
  • SHSU 3%
  • % International
  • HBU 4%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HBU 4%
  • SHSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HBU 91%
  • SHSU 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HBU 6%
  • SHSU 1%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Houston Christian University in Houston, 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 HBU based on total student enrollment (21,039 students vs. 4,276 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Houston Christian University is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); Sam Houston State University is in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting).
  • Houston Christian 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: Houston Christian University 18:1; Sam Houston State University 19:1.

HBU vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HBU 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 HBU ($14,737 vs. $21,282).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sam Houston State University are 9.3% lower than at Houston Christian University ($11,720 vs. $12,928).
  • Houston Christian University is 327.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHSU (about $30,202 more per year; $39,430.00 vs. $9,228.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 106.8% higher at HBU than at Sam Houston State University (about $20,362 more per year; $39,430.00 vs. $19,068.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Houston Christian University than at Sam Houston State University (100% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Houston Christian University students is 170.6% larger than aid received by Sam Houston State University students ($28,870 vs. $10,669).

HBU vs. SHSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HBU 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 HBU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Houston Christian University (1090) is 60 points higher than at SHSU (1030).
  • Incoming HBU 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: Houston Christian University 990/1190; Sam Houston State University 930/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Houston Christian University 17/24; Sam Houston State University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HBU - Test optional; SHSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SHSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • 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 (90.3%) than HBU (84.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.5% at HBU vs. 21.1% at SHSU.

HBU vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HBU 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 Houston Christian University's (45%).
  • Graduates from Houston Christian University earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than SHSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,600 vs. $47,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sam Houston State University graduates have a $2,666 lower median loan debt than HBU graduates ($21,500 vs. $24,166).
  • Among borrowers, SHSU graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.