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Texas Tech Lamar University University of Houston-Downtown SFASU TAMUK A&M Commerce UNT Angelo State Texas State Texas A&M West Texas A & M University MSU| Sam Houston State University | Tarleton State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
SHSU | Tarleton | ||
| Location | Huntsville, TX | Stephenville, TX | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 21,480 | 14,092 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #778 | #871 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | shsu.edu | tarleton.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SHSU | Tarleton | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,856 | $4,416 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $15,648 | $14,208 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,908 | $10,328 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,632 | $13,755 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,499 | $8,463 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 73% | 79% |
Admission |
SHSU | Tarleton | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 16,316 | 5,788 | ||
| Admitted | 13,809 | 5,039 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.6% | 87.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 24.6% | 48.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.25 | 3.21 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 960/1140 | 950/1150 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
SHSU | Tarleton | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
SHSU | Tarleton | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 39% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,800 | $45,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 57% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $19,750 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $204 |
Diversity |
SHSU | Tarleton | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 53% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 20% | 18% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
SHSU | Tarleton | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 98% | 97% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 1% | 3% | ||
Campus |
SHSU | Tarleton | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| 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 Tarleton based on total student enrollment (21,480 students vs. 14,092 students)
SHSU vs. Tarleton Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SHSU or Tarleton?
- Sam Houston State University is 32.6% more expensive to attend than Tarleton for in-state tuition ($5,856.00 vs. $4,416.00)
- Out of state tuition is 10.1% higher at SHSU than Tarleton State University ($15,648.00 vs. $14,208.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Sam Houston State University than Tarleton ($13,632 vs. $13,755)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tarleton State University are 5.6% lower than costs at Sam Houston State University ($10,328 vs. $10,908)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Tarleton State University than Sam Houston State University (79% vs. 73%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Sam Houston State University students is 24.1% larger than aid received Tarleton State University ($10,499 vs. $8,463)
SHSU vs. Tarleton Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SHSU or Tarleton? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Tarleton or SHSU .
- The average SAT score at Sam Houston State University (997) is 38 points higher than at Tarleton (959)
- Incoming SHSU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Tarleton (21)
- Accepted freshman SHSU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.25) than students at Tarleton (3.21)
- Tarleton has a higher acceptance rate (87.1%) than SHSU (84.6%)
SHSU vs. Tarleton Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SHSU or Tarleton? 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 Tarleton and SHSU.
- The graduation rate at SHSU is higher than Tarleton State University (50% vs. 39%)
- Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn on average $2,300 more per year than Tarleton graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $45,500)
- Tarleton State University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than SHSU graduates. ($19,750 vs. $21,500)
- Tarleton graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than SHSU graduates. ($204 vs. $222)
- More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tarleton students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 56%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/