SHSU vs. UTEP

Comparable Facts

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

The University of Texas at El Paso is larger than SHSU based on total student enrollment (25,039 students vs. 21,039 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sam Houston State University is located in Huntsville, TX (Remote Town setting); The University of Texas at El Paso is in El Paso, TX (Large City setting).
• Sam Houston State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at El Paso is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sam Houston State University 19:1; The University of Texas at El Paso 21:1.

SHSU vs. UTEP Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SHSU or UTEP? 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 The University of Texas at El Paso than SHSU ($9,305 vs. $14,737).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at El Paso are 7.3% lower than at Sam Houston State University ($10,864 vs. $11,720).
• The University of Texas at El Paso is 5.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SHSU (about $516 more per year; $9,744.00 vs. $9,228.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.7% higher at UTEP than at Sam Houston State University (about $6,434 more per year; $25,502.00 vs. $19,068.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at El Paso than at Sam Houston State University (82% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sam Houston State University students is 0.9% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at El Paso students ($10,669 vs. $10,571).

SHSU vs. UTEP Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sam Houston State University (1030) is 60 points higher than at UTEP (970).
• Incoming SHSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (20 vs. 19 at UTEP).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sam Houston State University 930/1120; The University of Texas at El Paso 860/1080.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sam Houston State University 17/24; The University of Texas at El Paso 17/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SHSU - Test optional; UTEP - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: SHSU Aug 1, 2027; UTEP May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UTEP students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at SHSU (3.25).
• UTEP has a higher acceptance rate (99.9%) than SHSU (90.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at SHSU vs. 33.5% at UTEP.

SHSU vs. UTEP Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SHSU and UTEP? 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 The University of Texas at El Paso's (37%).
• Graduates from Sam Houston State University earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than UTEP graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The University of Texas at El Paso graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than SHSU graduates ($17,250 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, UTEP graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SHSU graduates ($178 vs. $222).
• More SHSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UTEP students, three years after graduation. (57% vs. 45%)

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.