SHSU vs. Tarleton

Deciding between Sam Houston State University and Tarleton 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
Tarleton State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • Tarleton Stephenville, TX
  • Setting
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • Tarleton Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • SHSU 21,039
  • Tarleton 17,433
  • Type
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • Tarleton Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SHSU #794
  • Tarleton #914
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SHSU -
  • Tarleton -
  • Status
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • Tarleton Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SHSU
  • Tarleton

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SHSU $9,228
  • Tarleton $8,302
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SHSU $19,068
  • Tarleton $18,142
  • Room & Board
  • SHSU $11,720
  • Tarleton $10,920
  • Average Net Price
  • SHSU $14,737
  • Tarleton $16,159
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SHSU $10,669
  • Tarleton $7,929
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SHSU 66%
  • Tarleton 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SHSU 17,179
  • Tarleton 13,705
  • Admitted
  • SHSU 15,506
  • Tarleton 12,273
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • Tarleton 89.6%
  • Enrolled
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • Tarleton 24.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SHSU 1030
  • Tarleton 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • SHSU 20
  • Tarleton 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • SHSU 3.25
  • Tarleton 3.21
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SHSU B+
  • Tarleton B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • Tarleton Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • SHSU
  • Tarleton
  • ACT Range
  • SHSU 17/24
  • Tarleton 19/24
  • SAT Range
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • Tarleton 980/1160
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SHSU Test optional
  • Tarleton Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027
  • Tarleton Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SHSU 19:1
  • Tarleton 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Tarleton
    • Business (20%)
    • General Studies (18%)
    • Agriculture (11%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SHSU 50%
  • Tarleton 39%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SHSU $47,800
  • Tarleton $45,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SHSU 57%
  • Tarleton 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SHSU $21,500
  • Tarleton $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SHSU $222
  • Tarleton $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SHSU 37%
  • Tarleton 38%
  • % Women
  • SHSU 63%
  • Tarleton 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SHSU High
  • Tarleton Medium
  • HBCU
  • SHSU No
  • Tarleton No
  • % White
  • SHSU 53%
  • Tarleton 68%
  • % Asian
  • SHSU 1%
  • Tarleton 1%
  • % Black
  • SHSU 19%
  • Tarleton 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • SHSU 20%
  • Tarleton 18%
  • % Native American
  • SHSU 1%
  • Tarleton 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SHSU 0%
  • Tarleton 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SHSU 3%
  • Tarleton 3%
  • % International
  • SHSU 1%
  • Tarleton 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SHSU 2%
  • Tarleton 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SHSU 98%
  • Tarleton 97%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SHSU 1%
  • Tarleton 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Sam Houston State University is larger than Tarleton based on total student enrollment (21,039 students vs. 17,433 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting); Tarleton State University is in Stephenville, TX (Remote Town setting).
  • Sam Houston State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Tarleton State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Sam Houston State University 19:1; Tarleton State University 20:1.

SHSU vs. Tarleton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHSU or Tarleton? 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 Tarleton ($14,737 vs. $16,159).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tarleton State University are 6.8% lower than at Sam Houston State University ($10,920 vs. $11,720).
  • Sam Houston State University is 11.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tarleton (about $926 more per year; $9,228.00 vs. $8,302.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.1% higher at SHSU than at Tarleton State University (about $926 more per year; $19,068.00 vs. $18,142.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tarleton State University than at Sam Houston State University (91% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sam Houston State University students is 34.6% larger than aid received by Tarleton State University students ($10,669 vs. $7,929).

SHSU vs. Tarleton Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tarleton State University (1070) is 40 points higher than at SHSU (1030).
  • Incoming Tarleton 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; Tarleton State University 980/1160.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sam Houston State University 17/24; Tarleton State University 19/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHSU - Test optional; Tarleton - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SHSU Aug 1, 2027; Tarleton Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SHSU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.25) than students at Tarleton (3.21).
  • SHSU has a higher acceptance rate (90.3%) than Tarleton (89.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at SHSU vs. 24.3% at Tarleton.

SHSU vs. Tarleton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHSU and Tarleton? 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 Tarleton State University's (39%).
  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Tarleton graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $45,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tarleton State University graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than SHSU graduates ($19,750 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Tarleton graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.