SHSU vs. MACU

Deciding between Sam Houston State University and Mid America Christian 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.

Sam Houston State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • MACU Oklahoma City, OK
  • Setting
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • MACU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • SHSU 21,039
  • MACU 2,397
  • Type
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • MACU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SHSU #794
  • MACU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SHSU -
  • MACU Church of God
  • Status
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • MACU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SHSU
  • MACU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SHSU $9,228
  • MACU $21,294
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SHSU $19,068
  • MACU $21,294
  • Room & Board
  • SHSU $11,720
  • MACU $9,336
  • Average Net Price
  • SHSU $14,737
  • MACU $17,585
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SHSU $10,669
  • MACU $13,695
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SHSU 66%
  • MACU 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SHSU 17,179
  • MACU 376
  • Admitted
  • SHSU 15,506
  • MACU 345
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • MACU 91.8% Open
  • Enrolled
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • MACU 69% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • SHSU 1030
  • MACU
  • Typical ACT score
  • SHSU 20
  • MACU
  • Average High School GPA
  • SHSU 3.25
  • MACU -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SHSU B+
  • MACU -
  • Admissions Standards
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • MACU Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • SHSU
  • MACU
  • ACT Range
  • SHSU 17/24
  • MACU
  • SAT Range
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • MACU
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SHSU Test optional
  • MACU Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027
  • MACU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SHSU 19:1
  • MACU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • MACU
    • Business (36%)
    • General Studies (31%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (20%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SHSU 50%
  • MACU 23%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SHSU $47,800
  • MACU $45,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SHSU 57%
  • MACU 37%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SHSU $21,500
  • MACU $27,438
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SHSU $222
  • MACU $283

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SHSU 37%
  • MACU 32%
  • % Women
  • SHSU 63%
  • MACU 68%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SHSU High
  • MACU High
  • HBCU
  • SHSU No
  • MACU No
  • % White
  • SHSU 53%
  • MACU 54%
  • % Asian
  • SHSU 1%
  • MACU 1%
  • % Black
  • SHSU 19%
  • MACU 26%
  • % Hispanic
  • SHSU 20%
  • MACU 8%
  • % Native American
  • SHSU 1%
  • MACU 3%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SHSU 0%
  • MACU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SHSU 3%
  • MACU 4%
  • % International
  • SHSU 1%
  • MACU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SHSU 2%
  • MACU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SHSU 98%
  • MACU 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SHSU 1%
  • MACU 12%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX with Mid America Christian University in Oklahoma City, OK on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sam Houston State University is larger than MACU based on total student enrollment (21,039 students vs. 2,397 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting); Mid America Christian University is in Oklahoma City, OK (Large City setting).
  • Sam Houston State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Mid America Christian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Sam Houston State University 19:1; Mid America Christian University 14:1.

SHSU vs. MACU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHSU or MACU? 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 MACU ($14,737 vs. $17,585).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mid America Christian University are 20.3% lower than at Sam Houston State University ($9,336 vs. $11,720).
  • Mid America Christian University is 130.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHSU (about $12,066 more per year; $21,294.00 vs. $9,228.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.7% higher at MACU than at Sam Houston State University (about $2,226 more per year; $21,294.00 vs. $19,068.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mid America Christian University than at Sam Houston State University (95% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mid America Christian University students is 28.4% larger than aid received by Sam Houston State University students ($13,695 vs. $10,669).

SHSU vs. MACU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHSU or MACU? 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 MACU and SHSU.

  • Mid America Christian University reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sam Houston State University 930/1120.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sam Houston State University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHSU - Test optional; MACU - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SHSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • MACU has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than SHSU (90.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at SHSU vs. 69% at MACU.

SHSU vs. MACU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHSU and MACU? 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 Mid America Christian University's (23%).
  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than MACU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $45,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sam Houston State University graduates have a $5,938 lower median loan debt than MACU graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,438).
  • Among borrowers, SHSU graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MACU graduates ($222 vs. $283).
  • More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MACU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 37%)

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.