SHSU vs. TSU

Deciding between Sam Houston State University and Texas Southern 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 Southern University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SHSU Huntsville, TX
  • TSU Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • SHSU Remote Town
  • TSU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • SHSU 21,039
  • TSU 8,704
  • Type
  • SHSU Public 4 Year
  • TSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SHSU #794
  • TSU #1020
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SHSU -
  • TSU -
  • Status
  • SHSU Non-profit
  • TSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SHSU
  • TSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SHSU $9,228
  • TSU $9,173
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SHSU $19,068
  • TSU $21,473
  • Room & Board
  • SHSU $11,720
  • TSU $12,800
  • Average Net Price
  • SHSU $14,737
  • TSU $13,584
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SHSU $10,669
  • TSU $9,823
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SHSU 66%
  • TSU 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SHSU 17,179
  • TSU 9,391
  • Admitted
  • SHSU 15,506
  • TSU 9,101
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SHSU 90.3%
  • TSU 96.9%
  • Enrolled
  • SHSU 21.1%
  • TSU 17.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SHSU 1030
  • TSU 900
  • Typical ACT score
  • SHSU 20
  • TSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • SHSU 3.25
  • TSU 3.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SHSU B+
  • TSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • SHSU Very Easy
  • TSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • SHSU
  • TSU
  • ACT Range
  • SHSU 17/24
  • TSU 15/19
  • SAT Range
  • SHSU 930/1120
  • TSU 800/1000
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SHSU Test optional
  • TSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SHSU Aug 1, 2027
  • TSU Jul 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SHSU 19:1
  • TSU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SHSU
    • Business (27%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
    • General Studies (12%)
    • Psychology (6%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • TSU
    • Business (20%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • General Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SHSU 50%
  • TSU 12%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SHSU $47,800
  • TSU $36,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SHSU 57%
  • TSU 22%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SHSU $21,500
  • TSU $29,358
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SHSU $222
  • TSU $303

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SHSU 37%
  • TSU 35%
  • % Women
  • SHSU 63%
  • TSU 65%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SHSU High
  • TSU Low
  • HBCU
  • SHSU No
  • TSU Yes
  • % White
  • SHSU 53%
  • TSU 2%
  • % Asian
  • SHSU 1%
  • TSU 2%
  • % Black
  • SHSU 19%
  • TSU 80%
  • % Hispanic
  • SHSU 20%
  • TSU 6%
  • % Native American
  • SHSU 1%
  • TSU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SHSU 0%
  • TSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SHSU 3%
  • TSU 0%
  • % International
  • SHSU 1%
  • TSU 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SHSU 2%
  • TSU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SHSU 98%
  • TSU 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SHSU 1%
  • TSU 20%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Sam Houston State University is larger than TSU based on total student enrollment (21,039 students vs. 8,704 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

SHSU vs. TSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHSU or TSU? 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 Texas Southern University than SHSU ($13,584 vs. $14,737).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sam Houston State University are 8.4% lower than at Texas Southern University ($11,720 vs. $12,800).
  • Sam Houston State University is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than TSU (about $55 more per year; $9,228.00 vs. $9,173.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.6% higher at TSU than at Sam Houston State University (about $2,405 more per year; $21,473.00 vs. $19,068.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Texas Southern University than at Sam Houston State University (95% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sam Houston State University students is 8.6% larger than aid received by Texas Southern University students ($10,669 vs. $9,823).

SHSU vs. TSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sam Houston State University (1030) is 130 points higher than at TSU (900).
  • Incoming SHSU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (20 vs. 17 at TSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sam Houston State University 930/1120; Texas Southern University 800/1000.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sam Houston State University 17/24; Texas Southern University 15/19.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHSU - Test optional; TSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SHSU Aug 1, 2027; TSU Jul 15, 2027.
  • 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 (96.9%) than SHSU (90.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at SHSU vs. 17.9% at TSU.

SHSU vs. TSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHSU and TSU? 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 Southern University's (12%).
  • Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than TSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $36,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sam Houston State University graduates have a $7,858 lower median loan debt than TSU graduates ($21,500 vs. $29,358).
  • Among borrowers, SHSU graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.