SHSU vs. SFASU

Deciding between Sam Houston State University and Stephen F Austin 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.

Sam Houston State University
Stephen F Austin State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • SFASU Nacogdoches, TX
  • Setting
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • SFASU Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • SHSU 21,039
  • SFASU 10,472
  • Type
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • SFASU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SHSU #794
  • SFASU #881
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SHSU -
  • SFASU -
  • Status
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • SFASU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SHSU
  • SFASU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SHSU $9,228
  • SFASU $11,128
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SHSU $19,068
  • SFASU $23,426
  • Room & Board
  • SHSU $11,720
  • SFASU $13,144
  • Average Net Price
  • SHSU $14,737
  • SFASU $14,959
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SHSU $10,669
  • SFASU $10,694
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SHSU 66%
  • SFASU 83%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SHSU 17,179
  • SFASU 13,596
  • Admitted
  • SHSU 15,506
  • SFASU 12,779
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • SFASU 94%
  • Enrolled
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • SFASU 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SHSU 1030
  • SFASU 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • SHSU 20
  • SFASU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • SHSU 3.25
  • SFASU 3.26
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SHSU B+
  • SFASU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • SFASU Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • SHSU
  • SFASU
  • ACT Range
  • SHSU 17/24
  • SFASU 18/24
  • SAT Range
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • SFASU 970/1170
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SHSU Test optional
  • SFASU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027
  • SFASU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SHSU 19:1
  • SFASU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • SFASU
    • Business (20%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SHSU 50%
  • SFASU 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SHSU $47,800
  • SFASU $44,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SHSU 57%
  • SFASU 52%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SHSU $21,500
  • SFASU $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SHSU $222
  • SFASU $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SHSU 37%
  • SFASU 36%
  • % Women
  • SHSU 63%
  • SFASU 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SHSU High
  • SFASU High
  • HBCU
  • SHSU No
  • SFASU No
  • % White
  • SHSU 53%
  • SFASU 57%
  • % Asian
  • SHSU 1%
  • SFASU 1%
  • % Black
  • SHSU 19%
  • SFASU 20%
  • % Hispanic
  • SHSU 20%
  • SFASU 16%
  • % Native American
  • SHSU 1%
  • SFASU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SHSU 0%
  • SFASU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SHSU 3%
  • SFASU 3%
  • % International
  • SHSU 1%
  • SFASU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SHSU 2%
  • SFASU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SHSU 98%
  • SFASU 98%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SHSU 1%
  • SFASU 1%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX with Stephen F Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Sam Houston State University is larger than SFASU based on total student enrollment (21,039 students vs. 10,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting); Stephen F Austin State University is in Nacogdoches, TX (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Sam Houston State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Stephen F Austin State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Sam Houston State University 19:1; Stephen F Austin State University 16:1.

SHSU vs. SFASU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHSU or SFASU? 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 SFASU ($14,737 vs. $14,959).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sam Houston State University are 10.8% lower than at Stephen F Austin State University ($11,720 vs. $13,144).
  • Stephen F Austin State University is 20.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHSU (about $1,900 more per year; $11,128.00 vs. $9,228.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.9% higher at SFASU than at Sam Houston State University (about $4,358 more per year; $23,426.00 vs. $19,068.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stephen F Austin State University than at Sam Houston State University (83% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stephen F Austin State University students is 0.2% larger than aid received by Sam Houston State University students ($10,694 vs. $10,669).

SHSU vs. SFASU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stephen F Austin State University (1070) is 40 points higher than at SHSU (1030).
  • Incoming SFASU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 20 at SHSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sam Houston State University 930/1120; Stephen F Austin State University 970/1170.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sam Houston State University 17/24; Stephen F Austin State University 18/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHSU - Test optional; SFASU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SHSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • 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 (94%) than SHSU (90.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at SHSU vs. 17.1% at SFASU.

SHSU vs. SFASU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHSU and SFASU? 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 Stephen F Austin State University's (44%).
  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than SFASU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $44,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sam Houston State University graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than SFASU graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, SHSU graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.