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Lamar University University of Houston-Downtown Tarleton Texas State Texas A&M UNT TAMUK UH UT Tyler A&M Commerce UTSA Texas Tech| Sam Houston State University | Stephen F Austin State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
SHSU | SFASU | ||
| Location | Huntsville, TX | Nacogdoches, TX | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 21,403 | 10,888 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #747 | #823 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | shsu.edu | sfasu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SHSU | SFASU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,856 | $7,842 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $15,648 | $17,922 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,720 | $11,142 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,556 | $15,498 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,941 | $8,695 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 65% | 80% |
Admission |
SHSU | SFASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,582 | 12,591 | ||
| Admitted | 15,014 | 11,112 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 85.4% | 88.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 24% | 18.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.25 | 3.26 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 18/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1140 | 980/1160 | ||
| 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 |
SHSU | SFASU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
SHSU | SFASU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 44% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,800 | $44,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 57% | 52% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $258 |
Diversity |
SHSU | SFASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 53% | 57% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 20% | ||
| % Hispanic | 20% | 16% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
SHSU | SFASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 99% | 98% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 1% | 1% | ||
Campus |
SHSU | SFASU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Sam Houston State University is larger than than SFASU based on total student enrollment (21,403 students vs. 10,888 students)
SHSU vs. SFASU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SHSU or SFASU?
- Stephen F Austin State University is 33.9% more expensive to attend than SHSU for in-state tuition ($7,842.00 vs. $5,856.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14.5% higher at SFASU than Sam Houston State University ($17,922.00 vs. $15,648.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sam Houston State University than SFASU ($14,556 vs. $15,498)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stephen F Austin State University are 5.2% lower than costs at Sam Houston State University ($11,142 vs. $11,720)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Stephen F Austin State University than Sam Houston State University (80% vs. 65%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Sam Houston State University students is 14.3% larger than aid received Stephen F Austin State University ($9,941 vs. $8,695)
SHSU vs. SFASU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SHSU or SFASU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SFASU or SHSU .
- The average SAT score at Stephen F Austin State University (1001) is 4 points higher than at SHSU (997)
- Incoming SHSU students have at the same average ACT score (22) as students at SFASU (22)
- Accepted freshman SFASU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.26) than students at SHSU (3.25)
- SFASU has a higher acceptance rate (88.3%) than SHSU (85.4%)
SHSU vs. SFASU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SHSU or SFASU? 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 SFASU and SHSU.
- The graduation rate at SHSU is higher than Stephen F Austin State University (50% vs. 44%)
- Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn on average $3,200 more per year than SFASU graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $44,600)
- Sam Houston State University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than SFASU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,000)
- SHSU graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than SFASU graduates. ($222 vs. $258)
- More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SFASU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 52%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/