SHSU vs. Sul Ross State University

Should I go to Sam Houston State University or Sul Ross State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SHSU or Sul Ross State University 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. Sul Ross State University comparison
Sam Houston State University Sul Ross State University College 3 College 4
Sam Houston State University Sul Ross State University
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Overview

 SHSU Sul Ross State University
Location Huntsville, TX Alpine, TX
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 21,480 1,987
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #778
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website shsu.edu sulross.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SHSU Sul Ross State University
Tuition (In State) $5,856 $5,419
Tuition (Out of State) $15,648 $15,211
Room & Board $10,908 $9,744
Avg Net Price $13,632 $13,130
Avg Grant Aid $10,499 $9,096
% Receiving Grant Aid 73% 84%

Admission

 SHSU Sul Ross State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,316 717
Admitted 13,809 696
Acceptance Rate 84.6% 97.1%Open
Enrolled % 24.6% 35.8%Open
Avg High School GPA 3.25 3.32
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 16/21
SAT Range 960/1140 850/1080
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 Sul Ross State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • General Studies (23%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)

Outcomes

 SHSU Sul Ross State University
Graduation Rate 50% 24%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,800 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 57% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,500 N/A
Median Loan Payment $222 N/A

Diversity

 SHSU Sul Ross State University
% Men 36% 40%
% Women 64% 60%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 53% 23%
% Black 19% 7%
% Hispanic 20% 66%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

 SHSU Sul Ross State University
% In-State 98% 96%
% Out-of-State 1% 4%

Campus

 SHSU Sul Ross State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Sam Houston State University is larger than than Sul Ross State University based on total student enrollment (21,480 students vs. 1,987 students)

SHSU vs. Sul Ross State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHSU or Sul Ross State University?

  • Sam Houston State University is 8.1% more expensive to attend than Sul Ross State University for in-state tuition ($5,856.00 vs. $5,419.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.9% higher at SHSU than Sul Ross State University ($15,648.00 vs. $15,211.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sul Ross State University than SHSU ($13,130 vs. $13,632)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sul Ross State University are 11.9% lower than costs at Sam Houston State University ($9,744 vs. $10,908)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sul Ross State University than Sam Houston State University (84% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sam Houston State University students is 15.4% larger than aid received Sul Ross State University ($10,499 vs. $9,096)

SHSU vs. Sul Ross State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SHSU or Sul Ross State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Sul Ross State University or SHSU .

  • The average SAT score at Sam Houston State University (997) is 155 points higher than at Sul Ross State University (842)
  • Incoming SHSU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Sul Ross State University (18)
  • Accepted freshman Sul Ross State University students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.32) than students at SHSU (3.25)
  • Sul Ross State University has a higher acceptance rate (97.1%) than SHSU (84.6%)

SHSU vs. Sul Ross State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SHSU or Sul Ross State University? 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 Sul Ross State University and SHSU.

  • The graduation rate at SHSU is higher than Sul Ross State University (50% vs. 24%)
  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn on average $7,200 more per year than Sul Ross State University graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $40,600)
  • More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sul Ross State University students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 43%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/