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PVAMU Lamar University University of Houston-Downtown SFASU Tarleton Texas State UNT TAMUK Texas A&M UH A&M Commerce UTSA| Sam Houston State University | Texas Southern University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
SHSU | TSU | ||
| Location | Huntsville, TX | Houston, TX | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 21,480 | 8,632 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #778 | #1017 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | shsu.edu | tsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SHSU | TSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,856 | $7,437 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $15,648 | $19,677 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,908 | $9,664 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,632 | $11,826 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,499 | $12,085 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 73% | 99% |
Admission |
SHSU | TSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 16,316 | 8,582 | ||
| Admitted | 13,809 | 8,307 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.6% | 96.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 24.6% | 28.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.25 | 3.0 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | 15/19 | ||
| SAT Range | 960/1140 | 820/1000 | ||
| 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 | Jul 15, 2025 |
Academics |
SHSU | TSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
SHSU | TSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 12% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,800 | $36,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 57% | 22% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $29,358 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $303 |
Diversity |
SHSU | TSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 35% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 65% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 53% | 2% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 80% | ||
| % Hispanic | 20% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 0% | ||
| % International | 1% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
SHSU | TSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 98% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 1% | 22% | ||
Campus |
SHSU | TSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Sam Houston State University is larger than than TSU based on total student enrollment (21,480 students vs. 8,632 students)
SHSU vs. TSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SHSU or TSU?
- Texas Southern University is 27% more expensive to attend than SHSU for in-state tuition ($7,437.00 vs. $5,856.00)
- Out of state tuition is 25.7% higher at TSU than Sam Houston State University ($19,677.00 vs. $15,648.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Texas Southern University than SHSU ($11,826 vs. $13,632)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Texas Southern University are 12.9% lower than costs at Sam Houston State University ($9,664 vs. $10,908)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Texas Southern University than Sam Houston State University (99% vs. 73%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Texas Southern University students is 15.1% larger than aid received Sam Houston State University ($12,085 vs. $10,499)
SHSU vs. TSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SHSU or TSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between TSU or SHSU .
- The average SAT score at Sam Houston State University (997) is 180 points higher than at TSU (817)
- Incoming SHSU students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at TSU (17)
- Accepted freshman SHSU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.25) than students at TSU (3.0)
- TSU has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than SHSU (84.6%)
SHSU vs. TSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SHSU or TSU? 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 TSU and SHSU.
- The graduation rate at SHSU is higher than Texas Southern University (50% vs. 12%)
- Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn on average $11,600 more per year than TSU graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $36,200)
- Sam Houston State University students graduate with a $7,858 lower median federal student loan debt than TSU graduates. ($21,500 vs. $29,358)
- SHSU graduates are paying $81 less per month on federal student loans than TSU graduates. ($222 vs. $303)
- More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TSU students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 22%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/