SHSU vs. SFASU

Should I go to Sam Houston State University or Stephen F Austin State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SHSU or SFASU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Sam Houston State University vs. Stephen F Austin State University comparison
Sam Houston State University Stephen F Austin State University College 3 College 4
Sam Houston State University Stephen F Austin State University
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Overview

SHSU SFASU
Location Huntsville, TX Nacogdoches, TX
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 21,480 11,327
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #778 #894
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shsu.edu sfasu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

SHSU SFASU
Tuition (In State) $5,856 $7,842
Tuition (Out of State) $15,648 $18,858
Room & Board $10,908 $9,642
Avg Net Price $13,632 $13,858
Avg Grant Aid $10,499 $10,363
% Receiving Grant Aid 73% 72%

Admission

SHSU SFASU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,316 9,944
Admitted 13,809 8,901
Acceptance Rate 84.6% 89.5%
Enrolled % 24.6% 21%
Avg High School GPA 3.25 3.26
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 18/24
SAT Range 960/1140 970/1160
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

SHSU SFASU
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Business (20%)
  • General Studies (16%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

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 36% 36%
% Women 64% 64%
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 98% 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 (21,480 students vs. 11,327 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 20.5% higher at SFASU than Sam Houston State University ($18,858.00 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 ($13,632 vs. $13,858)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stephen F Austin State University are 13.1% lower than costs at Sam Houston State University ($9,642 vs. $10,908)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sam Houston State University than Stephen F Austin State University (73% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sam Houston State University students is 1.3% larger than aid received Stephen F Austin State University ($10,499 vs. $10,363)

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 (89.5%) than SHSU (84.6%)

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/