SHSU vs. TLU

Deciding between Sam Houston State University and Texas Lutheran 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
Texas Lutheran University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • TLU Seguin, TX
  • Setting
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • TLU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • SHSU 21,039
  • TLU 1,423
  • Type
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • TLU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SHSU #794
  • TLU #629
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SHSU -
  • TLU American Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • TLU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SHSU
  • TLU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SHSU $9,228
  • TLU $36,230
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SHSU $19,068
  • TLU $36,230
  • Room & Board
  • SHSU $11,720
  • TLU $12,350
  • Average Net Price
  • SHSU $14,737
  • TLU $25,119
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SHSU $10,669
  • TLU $24,861
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SHSU 66%
  • TLU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SHSU 17,179
  • TLU 2,306
  • Admitted
  • SHSU 15,506
  • TLU 2,207
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • TLU 95.7%
  • Enrolled
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • TLU 16.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SHSU 1030
  • TLU 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • SHSU 20
  • TLU 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • SHSU 3.25
  • TLU 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SHSU B+
  • TLU A
  • Admissions Standards
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • TLU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • SHSU
  • TLU
  • ACT Range
  • SHSU 17/24
  • TLU 22/28
  • SAT Range
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • TLU 1030/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SHSU Test optional
  • TLU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027
  • TLU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SHSU 19:1
  • TLU 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • TLU
    • Business (25%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (13%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SHSU 50%
  • TLU 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SHSU $47,800
  • TLU $49,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SHSU 57%
  • TLU 67%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SHSU $21,500
  • TLU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SHSU $222
  • TLU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SHSU 37%
  • TLU 46%
  • % Women
  • SHSU 63%
  • TLU 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SHSU High
  • TLU High
  • HBCU
  • SHSU No
  • TLU No
  • % White
  • SHSU 53%
  • TLU 55%
  • % Asian
  • SHSU 1%
  • TLU 1%
  • % Black
  • SHSU 19%
  • TLU 9%
  • % Hispanic
  • SHSU 20%
  • TLU 32%
  • % Native American
  • SHSU 1%
  • TLU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SHSU 0%
  • TLU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SHSU 3%
  • TLU 0%
  • % International
  • SHSU 1%
  • TLU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SHSU 2%
  • TLU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SHSU 98%
  • TLU 100%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SHSU 1%
  • TLU 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Sam Houston State University is larger than TLU based on total student enrollment (21,039 students vs. 1,423 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting); Texas Lutheran University is in Seguin, TX (Distant Town setting).
  • Sam Houston State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas Lutheran University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Sam Houston State University 19:1; Texas Lutheran University 11:1.

SHSU vs. TLU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHSU or TLU? 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 TLU ($14,737 vs. $25,119).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sam Houston State University are 5.1% lower than at Texas Lutheran University ($11,720 vs. $12,350).
  • Texas Lutheran University is 292.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHSU (about $27,002 more per year; $36,230.00 vs. $9,228.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 90% higher at TLU than at Sam Houston State University (about $17,162 more per year; $36,230.00 vs. $19,068.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Texas Lutheran University than at Sam Houston State University (100% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Texas Lutheran University students is 133% larger than aid received by Sam Houston State University students ($24,861 vs. $10,669).

SHSU vs. TLU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Texas Lutheran University (1130) is 100 points higher than at SHSU (1030).
  • Incoming TLU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 20 at SHSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sam Houston State University 930/1120; Texas Lutheran University 1030/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sam Houston State University 17/24; Texas Lutheran University 22/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHSU - Test optional; TLU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SHSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman TLU students have a 0.65 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at SHSU (3.25).
  • TLU has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than SHSU (90.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at SHSU vs. 16.8% at TLU.

SHSU vs. TLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHSU and TLU? 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 Texas Lutheran University's (49%).
  • Graduates from Texas Lutheran University earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than SHSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $47,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sam Houston State University graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than TLU graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, SHSU graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TLU graduates ($222 vs. $279).
  • More TLU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SHSU students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 57%)

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.