McNeese vs. SHSU

Deciding between McNeese State 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.

McNeese State University
Sam Houston State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • McNeese Lake Charles, LA
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • Setting
  • McNeese Small City
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • McNeese 6,241
  • SHSU 21,039
  • Type
  • McNeese Public 4 Year
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • McNeese #894
  • SHSU #794
  • Religious Affiliation
  • McNeese -
  • SHSU -
  • Status
  • McNeese Non-profit
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • McNeese
  • SHSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • McNeese $8,489
  • SHSU $9,228
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • McNeese $9,989
  • SHSU $19,068
  • Room & Board
  • McNeese $10,644
  • SHSU $11,720
  • Average Net Price
  • McNeese $12,430
  • SHSU $14,737
  • Average Grant Aid
  • McNeese $9,649
  • SHSU $10,669
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • McNeese 88%
  • SHSU 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • McNeese 3,902
  • SHSU 17,179
  • Admitted
  • McNeese 3,054
  • SHSU 15,506
  • Acceptance Rate
  • McNeese 78.3%
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • Enrolled
  • McNeese 38.2%
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • McNeese 1070
  • SHSU 1030
  • Typical ACT score
  • McNeese 20
  • SHSU 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • McNeese 3.36
  • SHSU 3.25
  • Typical High School Grades
  • McNeese B+
  • SHSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • McNeese Very Easy
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • McNeese
  • SHSU
  • ACT Range
  • McNeese 18/23
  • SHSU 17/24
  • SAT Range
  • McNeese 940/1198
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • McNeese Test optional
  • SHSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • McNeese
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • McNeese 20:1
  • SHSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • McNeese
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Engineering (5%)
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • McNeese 37%
  • SHSU 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • McNeese $44,000
  • SHSU $47,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • McNeese 49%
  • SHSU 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • McNeese $20,238
  • SHSU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • McNeese $209
  • SHSU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • McNeese 38%
  • SHSU 37%
  • % Women
  • McNeese 62%
  • SHSU 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • McNeese Medium
  • SHSU High
  • HBCU
  • McNeese No
  • SHSU No
  • % White
  • McNeese 67%
  • SHSU 53%
  • % Asian
  • McNeese 2%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Black
  • McNeese 18%
  • SHSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • McNeese 3%
  • SHSU 20%
  • % Native American
  • McNeese 1%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • McNeese 0%
  • SHSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • McNeese 3%
  • SHSU 3%
  • % International
  • McNeese 7%
  • SHSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • McNeese 0%
  • SHSU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • McNeese 84%
  • SHSU 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • McNeese 7%
  • SHSU 1%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA 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 McNeese based on total student enrollment (21,039 students vs. 6,241 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • McNeese State University is located in Lake Charles, LA (Small City setting); Sam Houston State University is in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting).
  • McNeese State 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: McNeese State University 20:1; Sam Houston State University 19:1.

McNeese vs. SHSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McNeese 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 McNeese State University than SHSU ($12,430 vs. $14,737).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McNeese State University are 9.2% lower than at Sam Houston State University ($10,644 vs. $11,720).
  • Sam Houston State University is 8.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than McNeese (about $739 more per year; $9,228.00 vs. $8,489.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 90.9% higher at SHSU than at McNeese State University (about $9,079 more per year; $19,068.00 vs. $9,989.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at McNeese State University than at Sam Houston State University (88% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sam Houston State University students is 10.6% larger than aid received by McNeese State University students ($10,669 vs. $9,649).

McNeese vs. SHSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, McNeese 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 McNeese.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at McNeese State University (1070) is 40 points higher than at SHSU (1030).
  • Incoming McNeese 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: McNeese State University 940/1198; Sam Houston State University 930/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: McNeese State University 18/23; Sam Houston State University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: McNeese - Test optional; SHSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SHSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman McNeese students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at SHSU (3.25).
  • SHSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.3%) than McNeese (78.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.2% at McNeese vs. 21.1% at SHSU.

McNeese vs. SHSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for McNeese 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 McNeese State University's (37%).
  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than McNeese graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $44,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, McNeese State University graduates have a $1,262 lower median loan debt than SHSU graduates ($20,238 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, McNeese graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHSU graduates ($209 vs. $222).
  • More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former McNeese students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 49%)

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.